William Jack

Who was William Jack?

William Jack was a Scottish botanist.

Jack was employed by the East India Company as a surgeon in India, where he also studied botany and corresponded extensively with 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 were destroyed by fire in 1824.

Three plant genera are named after him:

Jakkia Blume, 1823, in family Polygalaceae

Jackia Wall., 1824, a synonym of Jackiopsis Ridsdale, in family Rubiaceae

Jackia Spreng., nom. illeg., 1826, a synonym of Eriolaena in family Malvaceae