Dedicated to the history of Allan Cunningham Botanist Explorer 1791 – 1839
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…
Around this day, 1st January 1817, Mr Cunningham’s convict servants were assigned to him.
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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.…
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, 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.…
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…
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.…
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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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, 19th July 1814, while Allan Cunningham was working at Kew Gardens, Matthew Flinders died in London aged 40.…
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, 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.…
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, 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.…