Dedicated to the history of Allan Cunningham Botanist Explorer 1791 – 1839
On this day, 13th July 1791, Allan Cunningham was born in London. He was born into a time when people were moving away from rigid ideas based on faith dictated by religion and they were wondering about the connections in the natural world. He was born into the age of enlightenment.…
On this day, 4th August 1791, Allan Cunningham was christened at George Yard Chapel, previously White Horse Yard Chapel (Independent), Hammersmith, later Broadway Congregational Church.
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On this day, 12th February 1793, Allan Cunningham’s younger brother, Richard was born. He followed a similar path as his older brother, working for W.T. Aiton at Kew Gardens in London. He stayed there for eighteen years as an amanuensis*, cataloguing specimens which his brother Allan sent home from his travels in Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.…
While Allan Cunningham and his brother Richard studied and catalogued plants arriving from the “new” world at London’s Kew Gardens, on this day, 7th February 1814, two men arrived in Port Jackson. They arrived on the convict ship, General Hewitt. Their names were Joseph Lycett and Francis Greenway.…
On this day, 19th July 1814, while Allan Cunningham was working at Kew Gardens, Matthew Flinders died in London aged 40.…
On this day, 27th August 1814, Allan Cunningham applied for the position of The King’s Botanical Collector, soon afterward his application was accepted. It was agreed that he would be paid 180 pounds per annum plus expenses, being 30 pounds per annum in cash and the rest to be placed in a bank in London to provide for his retirement.…
On this day, 29th October 1814, Allan Cunningham and James Bowie sailed from Spithead on board the Duncan 74 commanded by Captain Chambers. Their destination was Rio de Janiero in South America. Their task was to collect botanical specimens for Kew Gardens in London.
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Three days after Christmas, on this day, 28th December 1814, Allan Cunningham and James Bowie arrived in Rio de Janiero, Brazil. They found a place to stay in the capital, Rio and spent the next three months awaiting the Portuguese government’s permission to travel in the interior.…
While Allan Cunningham and James Bowie were in Brazil, on this day, 18th June 1815, collecting plants for Kew Gardens, their fellow countrymen defeated the French at Waterloo. This event ensured the colonisation of Australia remained firmly in British hands…
On this day, 28th September 1816, Allan Cunningham and his colleague James Bowie departed Rio de Janeiro, having spent two years collecting plant specimens for Sir Joseph Banks and Kew Gardens. During this time they gradually became experts in botanical identification and their ability to overcome obstacles they met along the way were the foundations on which their future careers would stand.…
On this day, 20th December 1816, Allan Cunningham arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was an Australian summer’s day and he disembarked from the Surry at the dock in Sydney Town, “after a pleasant voyage of ninety-five days sailing”. The Surry was under the command of Thomas Raine and its Surgeon was John. F. Bayley.…
On this day, 23rd December 1816, Allan Cunningham organised the rental of a house in Parramatta for 50/- per month. After arranging the rental, he returned to Sydney to stay in his temporary accommodation for a little while longer.…
18th January 1817 On this day, 18th January 1817, Allan Cunningham recorded receiving an invitation from Governor Macquarie to attend a Ball; he wrote: In consequence of an invitation from his Excellency to attend the…
On this day, the “Dick” departed Gravesend on 13th February 1817. On board were Phillip Parker King of the Royal Navy, Midshipment John Septimus Roe and Frederick Bedwell. They were sent by the British Admiralty and the Colonial Office to survey the coastline of Australia. They will be joined by Allan Cunningham, the King’s Botanical Collector, later that year just before they depart on the Mermaid to circumnavigate Australia for the first time.…
On this day, 3rd March 1817, Allan Cunningham dined with Governor Macquarie at Government House Parramatta.…
On this day, 4th April 1817, Allan Cunningham joined John Oxley’s Expedition to trace the course of the Lachlan River. They returned on the 8th September 1817, five months later, worse for wear.…
Considering the small quantity of provisions we are now in possession of, the great distance we are from any resource, being about 350 or 370 miles south-westerly of Bathurst, and the rivulet still continuing to run westerly although very slow, Mr. Oxley has resolved to halt at this spot the whole of this week . . .…
On this day, 3rd September 1817, a few days prior to Allan Cunningham arriving back from his journey up the Lachlan River, Lieutenant Phillip Parker King RN, son of the former Governor of NSW, Philip Gidley King, arrived in Port Jackson aboard the “Dick”. He was accompanied by his wife Harriet and two midshipmen, John Septimus Roe and Frederick Bedwell.…
Allan Cunningham returned to Parramatta, worse for wear, at the end of John Oxley’s Expedition, attempting to trace the course of the Lachlan River.…
On this day, Allan Cunningham arrived at Government House in Parramatta to give his report of the recent Western Expedition to Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Other members of the expedition, John Oxley, William Cox and Charles Fraser had given their reports a few days previously.…