John White (surgeon)

John White (* 1756 or 1757 Drumaran, † February 20, 1832 in Worthing ( Sussex ) ) was an English surgeon and botanist of Irish descent. Its official botanical author abbreviation is " J.White RN".

Life and work

After attending school in Enniskillen, he became in 1778 a member of the Royal Navy. In 1780 he was promoted to surgeon, he received his diploma, 1781. He served, among others, in India and the Caribbean. On the recommendation of Andrew Snape Hamond Naval Officer White was surgeon on the ship Charlotte. The ship belonged to the First Fleet, which took off in 1787 as the first English settlers fleet to Australia. After arriving in 1788, White had in the newly founded colony of New South Wales held the position of General Surgeons ( Surgeon General ).

White was the first to describe numerous species of Australian fauna and flora, including the White's tree frog. In 1790 he published the description of the country Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales with 65 engravings of Australian animals and plants.

However, as is clear from his diary that he hated Australia dearly. He described it as " a country that is so repulsive and hideous that it deserves nothing but disgust and curses " ("a country and place so forbidding and so hateful as only to merit execration and curses "). In 1794 he left Australia and returned to England. From 1796 to 1800 White was the surgeon on the HMS Royal William, then surgeon of the shipyards in Sheerness ( 1799-1803 ) and later Chatham. In 1820 he retired.

He had a son from a relationship with Rachel Turner, who came as convicts with the Second Fleet to Australia, and another son and two daughters from a closed upon his return to England marriage.

Writings (selection )

• Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales., 1790. ( Digitized version)