RAY (John), a celebrated botanist, was the son of
Mr Roger Ray a blacksmith, and was born at Black
Notly in Essex in 1628. He received the first rudiments
of learning at the grammar-school at Brain-
tree; and in 1644 was admitted into Catharine hall
in Cambridge, from whence he afterwards removed
to Trinity college in that university. He took the de-
gree of master of arts, and became at length a senior fel-
low of the college; but his intense application to
his studies having injured his health, he was obliged at
his leisure hours to exercise himself by riding or walk-
ing in the fields, which led him to the study of plants.
He noted from Johnson, Parkinson, and the Phytologia
Britannica, the places where curious plants grew; and
in 1658 rode from Cambridge to the city of Chester,
from whence he went into North Wales, visiting many
places, and among others the famous hill of Snowdon;
returning by Shrewsbury and Gloucester. In 1660 he
published his Catalogus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam nescen-
tium, and the same year was ordained deacon and
priest. In 1661 he accompanied Francis Willoughby,
Esq; and others in search of plants and other natural
curiosities, in the north of England and Scotland; and
the next year made a western tour from Chester, and
through Wales, to Cornwall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire,
Hampshire, Wiltshire, and other counties. He after-
wards travelled with Mr Willoughby and other gen-
tlemen through Holland, Germany, Italy, France, &c.
took several tours in England, and was admitted fel-
low of the Royal Society. In 1672, his intimate and
beloved friend Mr Willoughby died in the 37th year
of his age, at Middleton Hall, his seat in Yorkshire;
"to the infinite and unspeakable loss and grief (says Mr
Ray) of myself, his friends, and all good men." There
having been the closest and sincerest friendship between
Mr Willoughby and Mr Ray, who were men of simi-
lar natures and tastes, from the time of their being
fellow collegians, Mr Willoughby not only confided
in Mr Ray, in his lifetime, but also at his death:
for he made him one of the executors of his will, and
charged him with the education of his sons Francis and
Thomas, leaving him also for life 60l. per annum.
The eldest of these young gentlemen not being four
years of age, Mr Ray, as a faithful trustee, betook
himself to the instruction of them; and for their use
composed his Nomenclator Classicus, which was publish-
ed this very year, 1672. Francis the eldest dying be-
fore he was of age, the younger became Lord Middle-
ton. Not many months after the death of Mr Wil-
loughby, Mr Ray lost another of his best friends, bi-
shop Wilkins; whom he visited in London the 8th of
November 1672, and found near expiring by a total
suppression of urine for eight days. As it is natural
for the mind, when it is hurt in one part, to seek re-
lief from another; so Mr Ray, having lost some of his
best friends, and being in a manner left destitute, con-
ceived thoughts of marriage; and accordingly, in June
1673, did actually marry a gentlewoman of about 20
years of age, the daughter of Mr Oakley of Launton
in Oxfordshire. Towards the end of this year, came
forth his "Observations Topographical, Moral, &c."
made in foreign countries; to which was added his
Catalogus Stirpium in exteris regionibus observatarum; and
about the same time, his Collection of unusual or local
English words, which he had gathered up in his travels
through the counties of England. After having pub-
lished many books on subjects foreign to his profession,
he at length resolved to publish in the character of a
divine, as well as in that of a natural philosopher: in
which view he published his excellent demonstration of
the being and attributes of God, entitled The Wisdom
of God manifested in the Works of the Creation, 8vo, 1697.
The rudiments of this work were read in some college
lectures; and another collection of the same kind he
enlarged and published under the title of Three Physico-
theological Discourses, concerning the Chaos, Deluge, and
Dissolution of the World, 8vo, 1692. He died in 1705.
He was modest, affable, and communicative; and was
distinguished by his probity, charity, sobriety, and piety.
He wrote a great number of works; the principal of
which, besides those already mentioned, are, 1. Cata-
logus Plantarum Anglie. 2. Dictionarium Trilingue se-
cundum locos communes. 3. Historia Plantarum, Species,
basibus editas, aliasque insuper multas noviter inventas et
descriptas complectens, 3 vols. 4. Methodus Plantarum
nova, cum Tabulis, 8vo, and several other works on
plants. 6. Synopsis Methodica Animalium quatuorpe-
dum et Serpentinum generis, 8vo. 6. Synopsis Methodica
Avium et Piscium. 7. Historia Insectorum, opus posthumum.
8. Methodus Insectorum. 9. Philosophical Letters, &c.