John Duthie (buried 1922)

At a glance

At a glance
Photograph of John Firminger Duthie about 1875
Surname: 
Duthie
First name: 
John
Other Christian names: 
Firminger
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Yes
Burial number: 
1073
Born: 
12/5/1845
Died: 
23/02/1922
Buried: 
27/02/1922
Occupation: 
Botanist; Plant Collector; Author; Tutor; Superintendent of Saharanpur Gardens
Distinction: 
Botanist
Heene Hallmark: 
Yes
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SES
Cemetery row: 
7
Cemetery plot: 
2
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/putty.chase.rots
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
In memory of John Ferminger Duthie 1845-1922

Life story

Life story

Heene Hallmark

John Firminger Duthie 1845 - 1922

Botanist 

Tutor, botanist, plant collector and author, John Firminger Duthie, or JFD, as he was known, made a considerable contribution to botany and the lives of the world's poorest people. In India he studied fodder grasses with the aim of understanding the causes of famine in the wake of the 1877 great famine of India. One of his books: 'Fodder Grasses of Northern India' was published in 1888 and has been cited by thousands of other researchers. As the Superintendent of Saharanpur Gardens in Northern India, he was a regular correspondent of Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker, a geographical botanist and Charles Darwin's closest friend. At least one of Hooker's letters to Darwin includes plants collected by Duthie in India. The Botanical Gardens at Kew have all Hooker and Duthie's letters available for viewing in their digital archive. 

Biography 

John Firminger Duthie, was born on 12th May, 1845, in Sittingbourne, Kent to the Reverend Achibald Hamilton Duthie and his wife, Mary Murray. John and his 9 siblings lived in the rectory in Upper Deal until, at the age of 7, he went to board at Marlborough College, a public school in Wiltshire. 

At the age of 19, Duthie studied at Jesus College, Cambridge, gaining at B.A. degree in 1868. After graduation, Duthie worked as a tutor, firstly in Somerset and then at Knotts Green, the country home of banker, Joseph G. Barclay. Duthie tutored, Henry Albert Barclay at Knotts Green, Leyton, Essex, which later became Livingstone College. Henry Barclay's, great great grandson, Humphrey, sent me the photograph of Duthie. Humphrey stated that, he was not surprised that Duthie became a botanist, because Knotts Green 'boasted a fine Palm and Fern House'. 

After his role as tutor, Duthie travelled with his mother and sister to Italy, based at Florence. He collected plant specimens in Italy and in the islands of Malta and Gozo. On his mother's death on 12 February, 1874, he returned to England and took up a post of Professor of Natural History at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester. In 1875 he was elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society. 

In 1876, Duthie was offered, by Lord Salisbury, then Secretary of State for India, the post of Superintendent of the Botanic Garden at Saharanpur in the North-Western Provinces of India. It was in this post that Duthie set about making a systematic study of plants of the Upper Gangetic Plain. He regularly corresponded with Sir Joseph Hooker, the director of Kew Botanic Gardens, about his work and plant collections. In turn, Hooker corresponded with Charles Darwin, Hooker's closest friend, drawing his attention to Duthie's work. 

On the 25th January, 1879, Duthie married Mary Maynard Coape-Smith, the daughter of Colonel Henry Coape-Smith. They married in Calcutta in West Bengal. Their daughter, Winifred Duthie, was born in Saharanpur in 1880 and their son, Arthur Murray was born a year later. 

Duthie was the Superintendent at Saharanpur for 27 years during which time he wrote papers and academic books relating, amongst other things, to grasses and orchids. His work is still widely cited and several plants are named after him. He also took part in army-led expeditions, collecting plants on the way. 

With failing health, Duthie returned to England in 1903 and worked as the Assistant for India at Kew Botanic Gardens. While at Kew, Duthie worked on several publications including: 'The flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain". 

In 1921 Duthie was living in Abingdon, Berkshire with his wife and married daughter, Winifred Norman (wife of Colonel Walter Henry Norman of the Indian Army), and his granddaughter, Verity. At this time his son, Colonel Arthur Murray DSO OBE, was serving in India. 

Duthie died at Puckaster, 69 Grand Avenue, Worthing while visiting his friend from India, Dr. Clement Caleb. Caleb was a polymath interested in everything and anything. He was an opthalmic surgeon who was also a professor of botany. 

J.F.D's publications are listed in the Miscellaneous section of this web page. 

The Botanical Gardens at Kew have 194 of Duthie's letters available for viewing in their digital archive 

Boraginaceae 

GH: 00097199 Mertensia parviflora D. Don : India: W. Himalaya J. F. Duthie 

GH: 00097199 Mertensia primuloides C. B. Clarke : India: W. Himalaya J. F. Duthie 

GH: 00097199 Mertensia tibetica C. B. Clarke : India: W. Himalaya J. F. Duthie 

GH: 00097771 Microcaryum diffusum Brand India: Rilam Valley, Kumaun, 13000 - 15000 feet J. F. Duthie 3196 1884-8-24  

GH: 00097772 Microcaryum diffusum Brand India: British Garhwal, rocks above Bhonani, 13000 ... J. F. Duthie 4227 1885-9-16  

GH: 00097777 Microcaryum duthieanum Brand India: Khudughera, Tehri-Garhwal, 14000 - 16000 fee... J. F. Duthie 129 1883-7-20  

Geocalycaceae 

FH: 00301140 Chiloscyphus himalayensis Stephani India: Uttarakhand Himalaya, Mussurie [Mussoorie] J. F. Duthie 

Orchidaceae 

AMES: 01941371 Aphyllorchis gollanii Duthie India: Uttarakhand Nág Tiba J. F. Duthie 24146 1900-7  

AMES: 01985273 Calanthe alismatifolia Lindley India: Uttarakhand nr. Mussorie J. F. Duthie 24148 1900-8  

ECON: 02175600 Crepidium acuminatum (D. Don) Szlachetko India: N. W. Himalaya; Near Mussoorie J. F. Duthie 1879-7-22  

AMES: 02156430 Dendrobium crepidatum Lindley and Paxton India: Garhwal; Below Mussoorie J. F. Duthie 1902  

AMES: 02156663 Dendrobium normale Falconer India: N. W. Himalaya; Below Mussoorie J. F. Duthie 22707b 1899-6-29

AMES: 00099131 Epipogium tuberosum Duthie India: Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir, Liddar Valley, Palgam J. F. Duthie 25386a 1901-9-3  

AMES: 02341423 Eulophia campestris Wallich India: Uttarakhand N. W. Himalaya, Jaunsár, Tons [?] Valley J. F. Duthie 22537 1899  

AMES: 02341421 Eulophia campestris Wallich Pakistan: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Waziristan, Wana J. F. Duthie 15776 1895-5-11  

AMES: 02341452 Eulophia herbacea Lindley India: Uttarakhand N. W. Himalaya, Near Mussoorie, N. India J. F. Duthie 24160 1900-7  

AMES: 00099458 Eulophia mackinnoni Duthie India: District Dehra Dun J. F. Duthie 24161 1900-8  

AMES: 01946672 Habenaria intermedia D. Don : India: Western Himalaya. Mussoorie. J. F. Duthie 25414 1901-8-17  

AMES: 01948777 Herminium gramineum Lindley India: N. W. Himalaya. [Nussoorie] J. F. Duthie 22713 1899-7

 AMES: 01948794 Herminium lanceum (Thunberg ex Swartz) Vuijk : India: N. W. Himalaya. Near Landour J. F. Duthie 21771 1898-8-16  

AMES: 02095530 Liparis viridiflora (Blume) Lindley India: Uttarakhand [no additional data] J. F. Duthie 25433 1901-10  

AMES: 00101679 Malaxis mackinnoni (Duthie) Ames India: Uttar Pradesh Near Mussoorie, 6000 feet J. F. Duthie 22974 1899-7-28  

AMES: 00101679 Microstylis mackinnoni Duthie India: Uttar Pradesh Near Mussoorie, 6000 feet J. F. Duthie 22974 1899-7-28  

AMES: 01945578 Peristylus fallax Lindley : India: N. W. Himalaya. Tehri-Garhwal. Nag Ti... J. F. Duthie 22987 1899-8  

AMES: 01945589 Peristylus goodyeroides (D. Don) Lindley : India: Near Mussoorie J. F. Duthie 1900  

AMES: 01948474 Platanthera latilabris Lindley India: [Mussoorie] Western Himalaya. J. F. Duthie 25415 1901-8-10  

AMES: 01948476 Platanthera latilabris Lindley India: [Mussoorie] N. W. Himalaya J. F. Duthie 24165 1900-8  

AMES: 01944188 Satyrium nepalense D. Don : India: Western Himalaya. Mussoorie J. F. Duthie 25431a 1901-8-30  

Rosaceae 

A: 00033522 Spiraea zabeliana C. K. Schneider India: Kumaon J. F. Duthie 2842 1884-8-31

Burial researcher: 
Pat Brownbill

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
12/05/1845
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Mary Maynard
Spouse one last name: 
Smith
Marriage one date: 
25/01/1879
Marriage one address: 
India

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
23/02/1922
Age (at time of death): 
77
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Puckaster, Heene, Worthing, Sussex, England
Obituary

Please read the obituary from The Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), 1922, Vol. 1922, No. 3 (1922), pp. 125-128.

 

Personal effects
Executors: 
Mary Maynard Duthie
Probate pounds: 
£706

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1851 census: 

Living at The Rectory, Upper Deal, Kent Archibald A Duthie (52) Rector of the Parish of Deal, his wife May (41), daughter Margaret J (18), daughter Mary E (15), daughter Charlotte C (12), son Charles J (9), son Archibald H (7), son John F (5) and sister Marie (35) and 3 servants

1861 census: 

Living as a student at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, J F Duthie (15) pupil.

1871 census: 

Living at Knotts Green, Leyton, Essex with the Barclay family as a tutor to their son, J F Duthie (25) Tutor B.A.

Miscellaneous information

John Firminger Duthie Publications

List of North-west Indian plants Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Publication Date 1881

The fodder grasses of Northern India Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number 200(5) Publication Date 1888

The Orchids of the north-western Himalaya. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number q169(5.13) Publication Date 1906

List of vascular crytogams and flowering plants of the Stellenbosch flats. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number pqF12.6 Publication Date 1930

On the botany of the Maltese islands in 1874: pt 2. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number pF1.57 Publication Date 1875

Field and garden crops of the North-western Provinces and Oudh. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Fuller, Bampfylde, Sir (1854- ) United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. Dept. of Agriculture and Commerce. United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (India). Department of Land Records and Agriculture Preferred Shelf Number q633(5.12) part 1-2 Publication Date 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 General Note At head of title: Pt. 1-2: Department of Agriculture and Commerce, N. W. Provinces and Oudh. At head of title: Pt. 3: Department of Land Records and Agriculture, N. W. Provinces and Oudh. Part 1-2 by J. F. Duthie and J. B. Fuller. Part 3 by J. F. Duthie.

A list of the Grasses of North-western India, indigenous and cultivated. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number 200(5) Publication Date 1883 1930

Report on the ... Government Botanical Gardens of Sahárunpur and Mussoorie ... 1885 (-86) Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Publication Date 86 1885 1886

Report on a botanical tour in Merwára (Rájputána) made in January 1886 Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number PQDUT Publication Date 1886 General Note Held in a grey archival folder.

A list of the Grasses of North-western India, indigenous and cultivated Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number 200(5) Publication Date 1883 1930 General Note At head of title: Department of Agriculture and Commerce, N.-W. Provinces and Oudh.

Illustrations of the indigenous fodder grasses of the plains of north-western India. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number q200(5) Publication Date 1886 1887 General Note [Part I] plates I-XL; [Part II] plates XLI-LXXIX.

Flora of the upper Gangetic plain and of the adjacent Siwalik and Sub-Himalayan tracts Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 VOL.1 Publication Date 1903 1960 General Note Reprinted from the 1903 edition under the authority of the government of India.

Flora of the upper Gangetic plain and of the adjacent Siwalik and Sub-Himalayan tracts Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Vol. 1 Publication Date 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907

Flora of the upper Gangetic plain and of the adjacent Siwalik and Sub-Himalayan tracts Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Cooke, Theodore (Former owner) Cooke, Theodore, Mrs (Donor) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 VOL. 1 Publication Date 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909

A List of the trees and shrubs of the forests of Pilibhit, Northern Oudh, and Gorakhpur. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Publication Date 1899

Report on an examination of the indigenous grasses and other fodder-yielding plants growing on the Hissar Bir land Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number DUT Publication Date 1885 General Note Caption title. Includes bibliographical references.

List of North-West Indian plants : Ranunculaceae to Plantaginaceae, arranged in accordance with the flora of British India, vols I. to IV. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Publication Date 1885

Flora of the upper Gangetic plain and of the adjacent Siwalik and sub-Himalayan tracts. Volume 3, Part 2, Coniferae to Juncaceae. Author Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number pDUT Publication Date 1920

Index to Flora of the upper Gangetic plain and of the adjacent Siwalik and sub-Himalayan tracts Author Jain, Sudhanshu Kumar (1926-2021) Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Publication Date 1952 General Note Index to Flora of the Upper Gangetic plain and of the adjacent Siwak and sub-Himalayan tracts by J. F. Duthie. Originally published in 3 volumes: Calcutta :

Mysteries of gardening, &c. Author Pyare Lal Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) (Donor) Preferred Shelf Number 944 Publication Date 1903

Phool = The flower garden. Author Devi Dyal Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) (Donor) Preferred Shelf Number 635.9 General Note In Hindustani.

Ghás Chárá = [Fodder and forage]. Author Devi Dyal Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) (Donor) Preferred Shelf Number 630.9(5)

Catalogue of the plants of Kumaon and of the adjacent portions Garhwal and Tibet : based on the collections made by Strachey and Winterbottom during the years 1846 to 1849 and on the catalogue originally prepared in 1852 Author Strachey, Richard, Sir (1817-1908) Strachey, Richard, Sir (1817-1908) (Donor) Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) (Donor) Preferred Shelf Number F5.12 Publication Date 1906

Darakht : Arboriculture : timber trees and fancy woods of India Author Devi Dyal Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) (Former owner) Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) (Donor) Preferred Shelf Number 634.9(5) Publication Date 1901

Report on the natural history results of the Pamir Boundary Commission Author Pamir Boundary Commission. Alcock, Alfred (1859-1933) Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Holland, T. H. (Thomas Henry) (1868-1947) Preferred Shelf Number F3.12 Publication Date 1898 General Note 145 copies printed

Indian Letters. 1853-1900. Bombay. N. Western India. Saharunpur Author Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Hooker, William Jackson, Sir (1785-1865) Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1817-1911) Thiselton-Dyer, William Turner, Sir (1843-1928) Duthie, J. F. (John Firminger) (1845-1922) Preferred Shelf Number DIR-CORR (154) Publication Date 1853 1854 1855 1856 1857 General Note There are 3 paginations & 2 indexes in the volume; Bombay letters 1-188, N. Western India letters 1-387 & Saharunpur letter