Ray, considered the "father of English natural history," is noteworthy for his contributions to a natural system of botanical classification that could encompass the wealth of natural historical information derived from voyages of exploration. He and likeminded colleagues at Cambridge helped establish small botanical gardens at their colleges, and they collaborated on a catalog of plants of Cambridge published in 1660.

Ray's catalog of English plants, first published in 1670, followed the same plan as the Cambridge catalog, itself modeled on the work of Caspar Bauhin. In later works Ray made good use of other catalogs of Continental botanical gardens.

Hill intended his book to review both the knowledge of the ancients and the discoveries of the moderns, including attempts to recover lost medicines of "former ages." The 2nd volume, published in 1751, introduced British readers to the Linnæan classification system, although Hill would later criticize said system. Variously identified as a physician, apothecary, and quack, Hill deployed the title "Sir" by virtue of the Order of Vasa conferred upon him by the king of Sweden, and deployed his satirical pen to attack the Royal Society when he was denied membership.

Tournefort is credited in botany with the modern concept of genus - in his view, a "cluster of species." Many of his works, from his materia medica to his taxonomic texts, enjoyed a long shelf life.

Antoine, Bernard, and Laurent-Antoine de Jussieu, as well as Linnæus, all had a hand in augmenting and enriching editions of Tournefort's writings. Antoine de Jussieu (1686-1758), who had studied under Magnol and (briefly) Tournefort, served as professor at the Jardin du Roi for nearly a half-century; Antoine's brother Bernard de Jussieu (1699-1677) had responsibility there for field courses and supervision of the gardens and greenhouses themselves. One historian notes that the botanical garden at the Jardin du Roi evolved under Bernard's care "from a simple apothecary's establishment to one of the best botanical gardens of the time."

John Martyn, professor of botany at Cambridge, was succeeded in this post by his son Thomas, who laid out the botanical garden at Cambridge in collaboration with Philip Miller. In the preface to this work, Thomas Martyn surveyed the recent history of taxonomy, noting that the "plates, with their explanations, may be considered as an entire work: but it is presumed that they will be much more satisfactory when studied jointly with [Jean-Jacques Rousseau's] letters. ." See Martyn's translation of Rousseau's Letters also in this exhibit section. Martyn also referred the reader to the works of William Curtis, among others.

The translators explained why they took on the task: "For how can we ascertain the more recondite properties of bodies, without first being able to distinguish them from each other? From the want of this science [Botany] almost all the medicines, and many of the arts of the ancients have been lost to their descendents. The labours of Linnæus are generally acknowledged to have best supplied this great source of future improvement, and yet his works have not hitherto appeared in the English language."

Thomas Martyn hoped his work "might be of use to such of my fair countrywomen and unlearned countrymen as wished to amuse themselves with natural history. ." He also noted the utility of many of the books exhibited here, but deplored the fact "that these books are so very expensive, as to be far beyond the purse of all but the opulent." He also regretted that many "live remote from public libraries." This copy was withdrawn - legitimately! - from the library of the Royal Botanical Garden, Edinburgh.