Anne Wilmot-Horton Explained

Anne Beatrix Wilmot-Horton (née Horton, 1788 – 1871) was an English amateur botanist who was the dedicatee of the plant genus Hortonia and of Lord Byron’s poem 'She Walks in Beauty'.

Early life and family

She was born in 1788, the daughter of Eusebius Horton of Catton Hall, Derbyshire, and was co-heir to the estate with her sister Frances.^[1]

In 1806 she married Sir Robert John Wilmot, 3^rd baronet. The couple hyphenated their surnames at the request of Anne’s father’s will in 1823. They had eight children, one of whom died in infancy.^[2]

'She Walks in Beauty'

On 11 June 1814, Lord Byron (who was her husband’s cousin) saw Anne in mourning-clothes at a party, and composed 'She Walks in Beauty' about her the next day.^[3]

Botany

While her husband was governor of Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, Anne gained 'extensive knowledge of Ceylon plants.' Botanist Robert Wight dedicated the genus Hortonia to her 'on account of the lively interest she takes in botany.'^{[4] [5]}

Later life

In her widowhood she returned to Catton Hall. She was the godmother of John 'Jackie' Fisher and, in one of his visits to her, aided his naval career by introducing him to Admiral Sir William Parker, who nominated him as a cadet.^{[6] [7]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Pine, L.G. . The New Extinct Peerage 1884-1971 . 1972 . 105.
2. Web site: Horton, Sir Robert John Wilmot-, third baronet (1784–1841), politician and colonial governor . 2024-04-19 . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . en . 10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-13827?rskey=kqvcdh&result=1. 2024-04-19 .
3. Book: Sachs . Jonathan . Lord Byron: Selected Writings . Stauffer . Andrew . 2023 . Oxford University Press . 978-0-19-873325-6 . 1041 . en.
4. Book: Baird, William . Magazine of zoology and botany . Baird . William . Berkeley . M. J. . Curtis . Charles M. . Dickie . George . Du Noyer . George Victor . Gray . E. . Henslow . J. S. . Jardine . William . 1837 . v.2 (1837-1838) [Lacks:Pl.XIV] . Edinburgh ; Dublin . 546.
5. Web site: Verzeichnis eponymischer Pflanzennamen – Erweiterte Edition Botanischer Garten Berlin . 2024-04-19 . www.bgbm.org . de.
6. Book: Morris, Jan . Fisher's Face, Or, Getting to Know the Admiral . 1995 . Random House . 978-0-679-41609-8 . 22 . en.
7. Book: Harris, Paul Ashford . Love, Oil And The Fortunes Of War . 2023-02-01 . Simon and Schuster . 978-0-6454972-0-5 . en.