Masson (Francis)
Original title: Masson (Francisco)
English botanist Francis Masson, who carried out the first systematic botanical explorations of the Madeira archipelago between 1776 and 1785 and sent specimens to Joseph Banks.
This English botanist arrived in Madeira in May 1776, and the following year he visited the Azores, where, we believe, he remained until October 1778. After spending time in the West Indies, England and Portugal, he returned to Madeira, which he finally left in 1785.
Masson was the first to carry out systematic botanical explorations in the Madeira archipelago, and he made known several species peculiar to this part of Portuguese territory. On several occasions he sent Joseph Banks specimens of the flora of our archipelago, and he also sent some plants to the son of Linnaeus, who described and published them.
Many of the plants sent to Joseph Banks are in the British Museum, which also holds a manuscript entitled Massonii Flora Maderensis; this appears to be a copy of another, now lost, compiled by Francis Masson.
On Masson’s stay in Madeira and the botanical work he carried out here, the article published in the Heraldo da Madeira (‘Madeira Herald’) of 27 April 1915 should be read.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 04-
The botanist Francis Masson arrived in Madeira in May 1776 and explored the island botanically into 1777, recording Guinea grass.
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The botanist Francisco Masson stayed in the Azores.
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Botanist Francis Masson finally left Madeira.
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The Heraldo da Madeira published an article on Francis Masson's stay and work in Madeira.
Place
Places mentioned · 04
- Azores
Portugal. Archipelago Masson visited from 1777 to about 1778.
The Azores, an Atlantic archipelago that shares plant species with Madeira. The Elucidário records settlement there by Madeiran families such as the Bettencourts, the 1801 ban on Azorean wines in Madeira, and imports of Azorean tobacco. It also notes that Azorean farmers were brought to Madeira to teach maize-growing methods.
- British Museum
United Kingdom. Holds many of Masson's plants and the manuscript Massonii Flora Maderensis.
The British Museum in London holds many of Francis Masson's plants and his manuscript Massonii Flora Maderensis, as well as Downe's Madeiran plant specimens. It also holds the 1750 English translation of Alcoforado's account.
- West Indies
Caribbean region. Region Masson visited before returning to Madeira.
The Índias Ocidentais (West Indies) were a major market for Madeira wine in the eighteenth century and the region of origin of the guava. Francis Masson visited them before returning to Madeira.
People
People mentioned · 03-
English botanist who explored Madeira's flora between 1776 and 1785 and is the subject of this entry.
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Son of Linnaeus, who described and published some plants sent to him by Masson.
- Joseph Banksd. 1820
English naturalist (Joseph Banks) to whom Masson repeatedly sent Madeiran plant specimens.