Celebrating Ellen Hutchins
(1785-1815)
Ireland’s first female botanist and talented botanical artist
Ellen was an engaging letter writer and we learn much of her story in her own words from her letters that have survived, written to botanists and two of her brothers. Hear extracts from some of her letters read by actress Sarah Jane Scott (from the Ellen Hutchins Heritage Trail Audio Guide). Read more about Ellen’s correspondence with botanists James Townsend Mackay and Dawson Turner. In the early 1800s when Ellen was actively engaged in her study of plants and sending specimens, drawings and letters to other botanists, some aspects of letter writing and the postal system were similar to now, and some very different. The same is true of other everyday matters and clothing. Find out about letter writing, costumes and customs in this period, and understand Ellen’s world better.
There is no portrait of Ellen, and there are many intriguing gaps in her story. Indeed, for years her story was almost forgotten, and she was a serious contender for West Cork’s best kept secret. Since Ellen’s story has been rediscovered, she has appeared in lists of Irish scientists and botanical artists, and collections of inspiring Irish women. There is an historical novel based on her life, and poems inspired by the correspondence between her and English botanist, Dawson Turner.
Her specimens, drawings and letters are held in herbaria and libraries in Ireland, UK and the USA. See some of the collection at the New York Botanical Garden in a video, and hear an RTÉ radio piece on the story of finding Ellen’s specimens in Trinity College Dublin and the home coming of Ellen’s drawings to Bantry. The Researching Ellen section gives a full list of where Ellen’s materials are held, a bibliography and online articles.