Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Lovell, Robert
LOVELL or LOVEL, ROBERT (1630?–1690), naturalist, born at Lapworth, Warwickshire, about 1630, was younger son of Benjamin Lovell, rector of Lapworth, and brother of Sir Salathiel Lovell [q. v.] He became a student of Christ Church, Oxford, ‘by favour [according to Wood] of the visitors appointed by parliament’ in 1648, and graduated B.A. in 1659 and M.A. in 1653. He studied botany, zoology, and mineralogy, and his works on these subjects were published in 1659 and 1661, while he was still apparently resident in Oxford. ‘Afterwards,’ Wood continues, ‘he retired to Coventry, professed physic, and had some practice therein, lived a conformist, and died [there] in the communion of the church [in November 1690].’ He was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Coventry.
Lovel's first work was ‘Παμβοτανολόγια: sive Enchiridion Botanicum; or a Compleat Herball, containing the sum of antient and modern Authors … touching Trees, Shrubs, Plants … wherein all that are not in the Physic Garden in Oxford are noted with asterisks … together with an Introduction to Herbarisme, &c., an Appendix of Exotics, and an universal Index of Plants, shewing what grow wild in England,’ Oxford, 1659, 8vo. It contains a list of nearly 250 authors cited; but Pulteney mentions it mainly ‘to regret the misapplication of talents, which demonstrate an extensive knowledge of books, a wonderful industry in the collection of his materials, and not less judgment in the arrangement.’ The work reached a second edition in 1665. Meanwhile the author issued a companion work, ‘Παμζωορυκτολόγια: a Compleat History of Animals and Minerals, with their Place, Natures, Causes, Properties, and Uses,’ Oxford, 1661, 8vo.
[Wood's Athenæ Oxon. vol. iv. col. 296; Wood's Fasti, vol. ii. cols. 160 and 176; F. L. Colvile's Worthies of Warwickshire, p. 516; Pulteney's Sketches of the Progress of Botany, i. 181–4; Foster's Alumni Oxon.]