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Elizabeth Blackwell (botanist) Elizabeth Blackwell (c.1700-1758) compiled a herbal book in English for novices interested in advancing their botanical knowledge. She wrote A Curious Herbal to help pay for her husband's debts. This impacted the reception of her work negatively, but she nevertheless continued production of A Curious Herbal as a serial publication issued in weekly parts.

This was enlarged and improved to become the Herbarium Blackwellianum (1750-60), with Latin text and was well received in England and abroad. It was edited by Christoph Jakob Trew in Nuremberg. Blackwell was among the few women whose work entered the public record in the mid-eighteenth century.

The transition between A Curious Herbal  and Herbarium Blackwellianum links the older female tradtional herbalist with the emerging female botanical illustrator.

Personal life
Elizabeth was born into a merchant family. Her uncle was the professor of medicine at University of Glasgow. She therefore had links with apothecaries, physicians and botanists of her time, which supported and encouraged her work.Her work was observed by esteemed members of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, based in Chelsea Physic Garden. Isaac Rand, an apothecary who cared for the Garden, promoted her work. Elizabeth moved near the Physic Garden, from which her career blossomed.