William Jack FRSE (1795 in Aberdeen – 1822 in Bencoolen, Sumatra) was a noted Scottish botanist and medical practitioner.

Life

He was born in Aberdeen on 29 January 1795 the son of Rev Prof William Jack and his wife Grace Bolt (d.1850). His father was a regent (the equivalent of Fellow) at King's College, Aberdeen at the time of Jack's birth, and went on to be first Sub-Principal and then Principal of the College. Jack studied at King's College, Aberdeen (which later became the University of Aberdeen) and received an M.A. degree at the age of 16, then continued studies in medicine in London, graduating as an M.D., and was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1812. Jack was employed by the East India Company as a surgeon in India, where he corresponded extensively with botanist Nathaniel Wallich. In 1818 he accompanied Stamford Raffles to Sumatra where he extensively documented the rich flora of that region until his death in 1822. Much of his work, including manuscripts, drawings, and collections, was destroyed by fire in 1824. He died at Bencoolen in Sumatra on 15 September 1822. Two of his younger brothers (also in the East India Company) were killed in the Cawnpore Massacre in 1857.

Botanical references

Three plant genera are named after him:

Published works

Other published works

From Malayan Miscellanies : vol.I, 1820 (as credited by Dr N Wallich):- From Malayan Miscellanies : vol.II, 1822:-