John Goodyer
- Born
- Unknown
John Goodyer was a 17th-century botanist who lived in Hampshire, England. His papers made a significant contribution to Britain’s botanical heritage, though his work remained unknown until his papers were studied three centuries after his death.
Very little is known about the life of Goodyer. He was born in 1592 and received a good education, working in several occupations that took him around the countryside. He was very interested in botany and identified many types of plants and trees.
Goodyer is credited with clarifying the identities of the British elm trees and the discovery of a species of elm native to the Hampshire coast, which has subsequently been named after him.
He also introduced new vegetation, such as the Jerusalem Artichoke, to English cuisine. He died in 1664.