Amazon Basin

Richard Spruce(1817-1893), a young Yorkshire botanist, who was amazed when he saw the mighty Amazon River for the first time in 1849. He explored South America for 15 years, discovering new vegetation. He was the son of a schoolmaster in the village of Ganthorpe, Yorkshire. He became interested in flora and fauna as a young boy. The delicate state of his health required a warmer climate than that of his native Yorkshire. Over the years, spent in South America, he collected and noted many varieties of plants and flowers. He returned to England in 1864 due to poor health. In 1867, a cottage was offered to him on the Castle Howard estate. He was granted a small Government pension in recogntion of his work as a botanist. Here he lived the life of a confirmed invalid. He died at the age of 76 after an attack of influenza.