MIERS

John (son of a jeweller). b. London 25 Aug. 1789; developed the mineral resources of Chili with lord Cochrane 1819–25; studied botany in England 1825; resided at Buenos Ayres 1826–31 where he erected a mint for the government; an engineer in Rio Janeiro 1831–8 where he also erected a mint for the government; resided in London 1838 to death; F.L.S. 1839, wrote nearly 80 papers in its Transactions, chiefly on South American plants; F.R.S. 9 March 1843; received grand cro of order of Rose of Brazil; Lindley dedicated to him the genus Miersia, a Chilian group of plants; author of Travels in Chili and La Plata 2 vols. 1825; Illustrations of South American plants 2 vols. 1850–7; Contributions to botany 3 vols. 1861–71; On the apocynaceæ of South America 1878; bequeathed his botanical collection to British Museum. d. 84 Add is on road, Kensington, London 17 Oct. 1879. Journal of botany (1880) 33–6, portrait ; Proc. of Royal Society , xxix 22–3 (1879).