Thomas Coulter

Who was Thomas Coulter?

Thomas Coulter, of Dundalk, was an Irish physician, botanist, and explorer. He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy, and a fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, where he founded the college's herbarium.

He served as physician with the Real del Monte Company in Mexico, during which period he collected plants in the region. He is best remembered for exploration and botanical research in Mexico, Arizona and Alta California in the early 19th century. He subsequently returned to Ireland in 1834 and became curator of the herbarium at Trinity College, Dublin.