Robert John Thornton was an English physician, botanist, and author best known for his lavish botanical publication The Temple of Flora, one of the most celebrated illustrated flower books of the nineteenth century. Born in 1768, Thornton studied at Trinity College before turning from theology to medicine after becoming fascinated by the botanical teachings of Carl Linnaeus and the lectures of botanist John Martyn. He later practiced medicine in London and lectured in medical botany at Guy’s Hospital.
Thornton devoted much of his fortune to producing A New Illustration of the Sexual System of Carolus von Linnæus, an ambitious botanical project combining science, art, poetry, and dramatic floral imagery. Its most famous section, The Temple of Flora, featured richly colored engravings created by leading artists and engravers of the period. Although now regarded as a masterpiece of botanical illustration, the publication was financially disastrous during Thornton’s lifetime. He died in poverty in 1837, but his visionary botanical works remain highly admired for their beauty and artistic innovation.
