William Herbert (botanist)

William Herbert (12 January 1778 – 28 May 1847) was a British clergyman and botanist, known for his extensive work on the Amaryllidaceae family.

Herbert was born in Highclere, Hampshire, the son of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied classics and mathematics. He took holy orders in 1807 and held various ecclesiastical positions throughout his life.

Despite his clerical career, Herbert dedicated a significant portion of his time to botany. He was a Fellow of the Linnean Society and a prolific writer on botanical subjects. His most important work was Amaryllidaceae (1837), a comprehensive study of the Amaryllis family, featuring descriptions and illustrations of numerous species. He also published Attila, or the Triumph of Christianity (1838), an epic poem in twelve books, demonstrating his diverse intellectual interests. He further contributed to the field with History and Varieties of the Bulbous-Rooted Plants (1837) and several articles in botanical journals such as Curtis's Botanical Magazine.

Herbert's botanical work was characterized by his meticulous observation and detailed descriptions. He conducted extensive experiments in his own garden, hybridizing different species and varieties, particularly within the Amaryllidaceae. He introduced numerous new plants to cultivation in Britain.

He died in Spofforth, Yorkshire, in 1847. His botanical collections are held at the University of Liverpool. The genus Herbertia (Iridaceae) is named in his honor.