George Bentham Autobiography, 1800-1834

Jeremy Caple is an assistant professor of history at the University of
Toronto.

As the nephew of Jeremy Bentham and the son of Samuel Bentham, George
Bentham grew up under difficult circumstances, which, nevertheless, had
some extraordinary benefits. His mother was a highly skilled botanist,
and her interest was to influence George as he developed into “one of
the great taxonomists” of the 19th century. George also had the
benefit of experiencing the work and the friends of his Uncle Jeremy;
after he became his uncle’s assistant he moved in circles which
included the likes of Alexander von Humboldt and J.S. Mill.

George’s early years were spent in Russia, where his father helped to
design and build Russian naval shipyards. While living there, he learned
to speak Russian, French, German, Latin, Spanish, and Hebrew, which were
of great benefit to him when he traveled on the European Continent.
Later his family moved back to England and, in 1814, on to France,
where, after becoming involved in serious botanical studies, he wrote a
catalogue of the indigenous plants of Languedoc. Returning to England,
he worked with his uncle and became an important contributor to
scientific congresses in Europe.

Filipiuk has done an admirable job of establishing the historical
context for this autobiographical manuscript and her well-balanced
editing makes the volume a pleasant and very rewarding read. George’s
work with his uncle, and his impressions of London and Continental life
in the 1820s and early 1830s are instructive. His memories of his father
and the building of Russian naval shipyards is of particular historical
significance as Samuel Bentham’s contribution to the British navy is
not yet clearly understood.