Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Kippist, Richard

1446126Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 31 — Kippist, Richard1892Benjamin Daydon Jackson ‎

KIPPIST, RICHARD (1812–1882), botanist, was born at Stoke Newington, London, on 11 June 1812. His first experience was gained in the office of Joseph Woods the architect and a distinguished botanist. Kippist travelled with Woods and helped to compile the still useful ‘Tourist's Flora.’ After Woods retired to Lewes in 1830, Kippist entered the service of the Linnean Society, helping to distribute the vast herbarium amassed by Dr. Wallich, until, on the death of David Don the librarian in 1842, he was chosen to succeed him. After two or three years of broken health he retired in 1881 on a pension of his full salary, but died at Chelsea on 14 Jan. 1882. He had an excellent knowledge of plants, especially those of Australia, and twice has a genus been dedicated to him as Kippistia, but in both cases they have been merged in older genera.

[Proc. Linn. Soc. 1881-2, pp. 64-5.]

B. D. J.