Archibald menzies biography template

He spent many years at sea, serving with the Royal Navy , private merchants, and the Vancouver Expedition. During his naval expeditions, he assembled the most extensive collection of extra-European lichen specimens of the 18th century, significantly contributing to the field of lichenology.

Archibald menzies biography template: Menzies was born in Weem,

He was the first recorded European to reach the summit of the Hawaiian volcano Mauna Loa and introduced the monkey puzzle tree Chile pine to England. He was elected a fellow of the Linnean Society in When the surgeon fell ill, Menzies took over his duties. He collected many specimens of plants and animals during the voyage, returning them to the UK.

He also made a detailed record of the voyage. In , while Discovery spent one of three winters in Hawaii , Menzies, with Lieutenant Joseph Baker and two other men, made the first recorded ascent to Mokuaweoweo , the summit of Mauna Loa. Menzies used a portable barometer to measure the height of the mountain as 13, feet 4, m compared to its currently known height of 13, feet 4, m.

It would be forty years before another European, fellow Scotsman David Douglas , would reach the summit on 29 January In , Menzies was served the seeds of the Chile pine, Araucaria araucana , as a dessert while dining with the Viceroy of Chile. He was able to pop some seeds into his pocket and grow them on board ship on the way back to Europe, and returned to England with five healthy plants, the first seen in Britain.