Five Fact Friday: Plant Hunters - Francis Masson

1. Francis Masson was born in August 1741 in Aberdeen. He was put forward as Kew's first plant hunter by Sir Joseph Banks. He died after a short illness on 23 December 1805 in Montreal and was buried on Christmas day.
2. His first voyage was in 1772 on HMS Resolution with Captain Cook to South Africa. He travelled extensively throughout the land around Cape Town. One such excursion from 25 September 1774 to 29 December 1774 saw Masson with his plant hunter friend Hurnberg travelling hundreds of miles. During which, Masson collected over 500 new species. He was recalled to Britain at the end of 1775.
3. Finding it hard to readjust to life back in Britain, Banks eventually found him another adventure. This time a transatlantic journey first visiting Madeira before making their way to the West Indies. This trip was fated with bad luck. He was forced into joining the local malitia in the Carribean against the French, during which he lost his plant collection, captured by said French and was only released after high level negotiations by Banks. Later, in St. Lucia a hurricane devastated Masson's new plant collection. He eventually sailed back in 1781.
4. After a few more trips spanning his adult life, he was unable to settle back at Kew. He travelled to North America in the September of 1979. Sadly his body couldn't cope with the harsh climate, especially after years of getting used to the heat of South Africa. His condition deteriorated through the winter of 1805 and died on 23 December.
5. Let us not forget, though, the wonderful plants that Masson introduced. These include: Strelitzia reginae, Protea cynaroides, and what had become the world's oldest pot plant (see video below) Encephalartos altensteinii.


Resources:
Musgrave, T. (1998) The Plant Hunters, London, The Orion Publishing Group