John Mitchell Watt

John Mitchell Watt (1892–1973) was a Scottish-born pharmacologist and ethnobotanist who made significant contributions to the field of medicinal plants. He is best known for his work in Africa, where he conducted extensive research on the medicinal properties of local plants and their uses in traditional medicine.

Early Life and Education

Watt was born in Scotland in 1892. He received his early education in his home country before moving to England to pursue higher studies. He earned his degree in pharmacy from the University of London, where he developed an interest in botany and ethnobotany.

Career

After completing his education, Watt moved to South Africa in 1914, where he began his career as a pharmacist. He soon developed an interest in the local flora and its medicinal properties, which led him to conduct extensive research in this area. His work focused on the identification and classification of medicinal plants, as well as the study of their uses in traditional African medicine.

In 1921, Watt was appointed as a lecturer in Materia Medica at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. He held this position for several years, during which he continued his research on medicinal plants. His work was widely recognized, and he was eventually promoted to the position of Professor of Pharmacognosy.

Contributions to Ethnobotany

Watt's most significant contribution to the field of ethnobotany was his comprehensive study of African medicinal plants. He published several books on this subject, including "Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa" and "African Plants Used for Medicine". These works are considered seminal texts in the field of ethnobotany and continue to be widely referenced by researchers today.

Later Life and Legacy

Watt retired from the University of Witwatersrand in 1957 but continued his research until his death in 1973. His work has had a lasting impact on the field of ethnobotany, and he is remembered as one of the pioneers of this discipline.

See Also

• Ethnobotany
• Medicinal plants
• Pharmacognosy
• Materia Medica

External Links

• Example Website

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