Rev Adam Buddle

The Rev Adam Buddle was one of the pioneering botanists of the UK.

He was born at Deeping St James, Lincolnshire in 1662.

At the age of 23 he gained an MA at St Catharine’s College, Cambridge.

His ordination was cancelled in 1691 when he refused to pledge allegiance to the newly crowned King William 3rd.

Buddle was eventually ordained in 1702 and the following year he became the vicar of North Fambridge.

From a comparatively young age Buddle was fascinated by plants especially mosses and built up one of the finest collections of British Grasses and Moss.

Many eminent naturalist visited Buddle to examine his collection.

By 1708 Buddle had gathered together so many species that he wrote a book called 'a complete english flora'. Sadly Buddle died before the book could be published although the original manuscript and his collection was preserved at the Natural History Museum where it is still on display.

Buddles name has been immortalised as his name is attributed to have been commemorated, 20 years after his death in 1715,  in the naming of the Buddleia plant.