Fortune

Fortune, Robert (1813-1880), botanist, was born at Berwick. He began life as a gardener, and was employed at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Edinburgh, and then in the gardens at Chiswick. In 1843 the Botanical Society of London sent him to China, and in 1847 was published his Three Years' Wanderings in Northern China. He made three more visits to the country in the tea interest, and took plants to India, and collected seeds and plants for the United States of America. He made a fifth journey, and wrote Yedo and Pel/in in 1863. Other works of his are a Journey to the Tea-countries of China, and Residence among the Chinese.