Species Nelsonia senegalensis

For David Nelson (?–1789), English gardenerbotanist to James Cook on his third voyage (1776–1780) and to William Bligh on his voyage to Tahiti to obtain breadfruit trees (1787–1789). Nothing is known of Nelson’s early life. He received some botanical training from Joseph Banks and William Aiton prior to his voyage with Cook. After the ship’s return, he worked for Kew Gardens for seven years before accepting an appointment as botanist to Bligh on the HMS Bounty. When Bligh’s crew mutinied, Nelson, together with 19 men loyal to Bligh, were cast adrift without arms in a small boat. Nelson survived the famous 3 800-mile voyage to Timor. A few days after arriving, he spent a day botanising in the mountains, caught a cold and died.