A R Clapham

Arthur Roy Clapham was a significant figure in botanical science both at home and internationally. Born in Norwich, and educated at the City of Norwich School, he gained a double first specialising in botany at Downing College, Cambridge in 1922.

After several years of research in plant physiology at Cambridge he moved in 1928 to Rothamsted Agricultural Experimental Station as a crop physiologist. In 1930 he went to Oxford, studying with the encouragement of the father of British plant ecology, A.G. Tansley.

From 1944 until 1969, Clapham served as Head of the Department of Botany in the University of Sheffield and acted briefly as Vice Chancellor. An unassuming and modest person, he was always extremely busy but was invariably helpful and gave encouragement and sound advice freely to many plant ecologists.

The early 1950s saw the start of the detailed mapping of British plants on a 10-kilometre square base, initiated by Clapham (the model now adopted for fauna), and in 1952 the old Bentham and Hooker Flora was superseded as the standard work by the widely-acclaimed Flora of the British Isles by Clapham, T.G. Tutin and E.F. Warburg.

Watch the video below to hear from some of those who have been inspired by Clapham's book, Flora of the British Isles.

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The collection currently consists of over 500 books.

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Throughout the last year we have been canvassing staff, students and alumni to garner nominations for books by our Sheffield Academics that have inspired, motivated or informed.

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