SOME ASPECTS OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF JOHN ELLIS, KING'S AGENT FOR WEST FLORIDA 1763 TO 1776 (ENGLAND, ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, MICROSCOPY)

This dissertation has explored the work of John Ellis and has sought to establish his place in the development of natural history and the improvement in the microscope in the middle years of the eighteenth Century. At the same time due regard has been given to his work as King's Agent for West Florida, his involvement with the Irish linen trade and his work as Colonial Agent for Dominica. In so doing, this study has sought to establish his place in British Colonial Administration in the middle years of the eighteenth Century.;The milieu in which he did his scientific work as well as his participation in what Brooke Hindle called the "Natural History Circle" have been enlivened and enriched with documents from the Ellis-Skene manuscripts from the University of Aberdeen. His involvement as Colonial Agent for Dominica has hitherto not been discussed to any great extent. This has been elaborated upon, somewhat, with the aid of documents from the Public Record Office, Minutes of the Council of Dominica.;Of necessity some facts had to be addressed and either substantiated or challenged. In so doing, the total picture of Ellis's life and times has been enhanced. This is not to say that this study is a definitive or a final one. Indeed, there are considerable areas where further research could be fruitful. However, sufficient data has been here presented which suggests that John Ellis carved his own niche in the history of science in the middle years of the eighteenth Century.;New evidence has been brought to the forefront which indicates that he was probably born in London, not Ireland and that his birthdate was in 1710 or prior thereto but definitely not later than 1710. His parents were not from the merchant class nor were they financially well to do. Nonetheless, his father started him on the road to business success via the apprenticeship route as a clothworker. The details of his business affairs have been expanded and clarified with the aid of church records and manuscripts from the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.