PETIVER (James), a famous English botanist, was con-
river, contemporary with Plukenet; but the exact time of his birth is not known, nor is much intelligence concerning him at present to be obtained. His profession was that of an apothecary, to which he was apprenticed under Mr Feltham, then apothecary to St Bartholomew's hospital*. When he entered into business for himself, he settled in Aldersgate-street, and there continued for the remainder of his life. He obtained considerable business, and after a time became apothecary to the charter house. After the Tractescants, he appears to have been the only person, except Mr Courten and Sir Hans Sloane, who made any considerable collection in natural history, previous to those of the present day. He engaged the captains and surgeons of ships to bring him home specimens, and enabled them to select proper objects, by printed directions which he distributed among them. By these means his collection became so valuable, that some time before his death, Sir Hans Sloane offered him L. 4000 for it. After his death, it was purchased by the same collector. His museum extended his fame both at home and abroad. He was elected into the Royal Society; and becoming acquainted with Ray, assisted him in arranging the second volume of his History of Plants. He died April 20. 1718; and much honour was shewn to him at his funeral, by the attendance of Sir Hans Sloane, and other eminent men, as pall bearers, &c. By future botanists, his name was given to a plant. See PETIVERIA, Encycl.
He gave the world several publications on various subjects of natural history: 1. Musei Petiveriani Centuria decem, 1692—1703, 8vo. 2. Ganophylacii Natura et Artus, Decades decem, folio, 1702, with 100 plates. 3. A Catalogue of Mr Ray's English Herbal, illustrated with figures, folio, 1713, and continued in 1715. 4. Many small publications, which may be found enumerated in Dr Pultney's book. 5. Many papers in the Philosophical Transactions, and a material article in the third volume of Ray's work, entitled, Plantæ Rariorum Chinenses Madraspatane, et Africane, a Jacobo Petivero ad opus Consummandum Collate, &c. Many of his smaller tracts having become very scarce, his works were collected and published, exclusive of his papers in the Transactions, in 2 vols folio, and one 8vo, in the year 1764.