User:Rotational/Alan Cunningham

Alan Cunningham (13 July 1791 Wimbledon, London - 27 June 1839 Sydney), Kew botanical collector.

He received his education at Putney and was groomed for a career in law by a Lincoln's Inn conveyancer. Becoming disillusioned by his choice, Cunningham opted to become the assistant of William Townsend Aiton, Kew Gardens' superintendent at the time, and in 1814 was appointed as Botanical Collector. His first collecting trip, lasting two years, was to Brazil. The following 16 years were spent in botanical exploration in various parts of the world, his apprenticeship having been served as a member of Phillip Parker King's survey party between 1817 and 1822.