Wright, William (London)

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Dates 1763-c.1790s
Location London
Vocation Military physician & naturalist
Place of Birth Crieff, Perthshire
Marriage
Issue
Place of birth Source Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

Attended lectures at Edinburgh medical school (1756) but did not take a degree. Joined navy as a surgeon’s second mate (1758), promoted and remained in navy for five years. Wright moved to London in 1763 and improved his qualifications, submitting himself for examination at Surgeon’s Hall where he obtained his obtained MD Between 1764 and 1790s resided between London, Edinburgh and the West Indies . Wright became a member of London’s leading scientific circles as a botanist. Elected fellow of Royal Society (1778). Many of the Caribbean plant specimens he brought back are still in Kew Gardens and the Natural History Museum herbarium in London. Finally returned to Britain in 1798 ultimately dying in Edinburgh.