Cunningham, Richard (1793 - 1835)

Born in Wimbledon, England, on 12 February 1793, died near Dandaloo, New South Wales, about 15 April 1835.

Younger brother of Allan Cunningham. Worked on Hortus Kewensis around 1808, before travelling to Australia and New Zealand (1833-1834). Appointed Colonial Botanist (New South Wales) and Superintendent of Botanic Gardens, Sydney (1833-1835) on the recommendation of Robert Brown, Cunningham sent numerous live plants back to Ireland and England. Killed on Mitchell's second expedition. His collections are at K, with duplicates in E, GL, MEL, MO, NSW and OXF.

Extracted from: A.E.Orchard (1999) A History of Systematic Botany in Australia, in Flora of Australia Vol.1, 2nd ed., ABRS. [consult for source references]