William Aiton, a Scotch gardener and botanist, born near Hamilton in 1731, died at Kew palace, Feb. 1, 1793. He emigrated to England in 1754, and in 1759 obtained the management of the royal botanical garden at Kew, and in 1783 also that of the pleasure garden. Under his care Kew gardens became the principal scene of botanical culture in the kingdom. In 1789 he published his Hortus Kewensis (3 vols. 8vo), in which 5,600 species are described. The system of arrangement adopted is the Linnaean. and the author indicates the origin, mode of culture, and the epoch of introduction into England, of each species. He was assisted in this task by two learned Swedes, Dr. Solander and Mr. Jonas Dryander. He was succeeded by his son, William Town-send Aiton, who retired in 1841, and died in 1849, aged 84.