The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

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Sylvanus Landon ( - 1706)

Surgeon. Son of Thomas Landon and grandson of Sylvanus Landon (d. 1681). Identified in in his will as President of the English Company at "Baudjarmassingh," he lived at Madras Patnam and died at Bath in 1706. Probate records identify his as "of parish of St. Alban's, Woodstreet." See Swan, 431-2 and Kew PROB 11/502/297, PROB 18/29/18 London.

Relevant locations: Death place at Bath, Somerset
Lived at or near Madras, Tamil Nadu
Lived at or near Wood Street, London
Visited Flores [Island], Indonesia
 Relationships: Sylvanus Landon was a employed by East India Company (1600-)
Sylvanus Landon was a friend of James Petiver (c. 1665-Apr 1718)

 Linked print sources: as Mentions or references - A description of some shells found on the Molucca Islands; as also an account of Mr Sam. Brown, his fourth book of East India plants, with their names, vertues, &c..
as Mentions or references - The Landon Family.
 References in Documents:
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 62. Gramen Dactylon Canariense pumilum aristatum. Small Canary Cocks=foot Grass. I first received this from the Canaries, and not long since from the Coast of Spain, gather'd by my ingenious Friend Mr. Sylvanus Landon, between Cales and Barcelona.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 68. Kali minus foliis lucidis Bot. Monsp. Raii H. Pl. 199. Dr. Magnol's shining white Glass=wort. My ingenious Friend Mr. Sylvanus Landon found this at Carthagena, and N. 67. at Alicant.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 105. Anguis Borneocus viridis familiaris pertenuis. an Serpens Indicus, gracilis viridis in arboretis & fruticetis degens Æhætulla Ceylonensibus i. e. Oculis infestus. Mus. Indic. Herm: 8 & 92. Raii Syn. An. 331. This elegant and harmless Snake, the King of Borneo his Sons kept to play with, from whom my very obliging Friend Mr. Silvanus Landon procured it for me.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 106. Cæcilia. Borneoca pulla, lineis nigris striata. Given me by the same Hand.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 107. Serpens' Borneocus ex fusco cyaneus, zonis albescentibus. Brought me by my aforesaid worthy Friend, from the same place with the two last.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) * 177. Corallium nigrum Borneocum ramulis virgultis. Mr. Sylvanus Landon brought me this from the Coast of Borneo.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 427. Landonia argentea foliis angustis incanis, ex Insula Flores. My kind Friend Mr. Landon brought me this New Plant from the Island of Flores.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 451. Phaseolodes spicata monospermos, calyce Plantæ Verticillatæ, ex Insula Flores. I am obliged to Mr. Landon for this singular Plant.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 1. MR.Mr. GEORGE ALFREY, Surgeon to Capt. HALLEY in his late Expedition, was so kind to make me some Collections of Plants on the Coast of Brasil. 2. Mr. EDWARD BARTER, at Cape Coast in Guinea. From this Person I lately received 3 or 4 Quires of Plants, with some Medicinal Roots, &c. 3. Mr. JACOB BOBART, Botanick Professor of the Physick-Garden at OXFORD, hath favoured me with some Plants I had not before seen. 4. Mr. SAMUEL BROWNE, Surgeon at Fort S. George in the East-Indies. To the indefatigable Industry of this Worthy and Generous Person, I am beyond expression obliged, for his large and frequent Performances; in not only gathering himself, but constantly employing several Persons to make Collections for me, and many of them some days Journy up the Country, from such Places we never yet saw any Plants before. And to most of these he has added their Indian Names, and the Vertues to such as are known to have any. I have this Year (besides several before) received near 20 Volumes in Folio, filled with fair and perfect Specimens of Trees and Herbs, and amongst them some from China, the Island of Ceilon, &c. He hath also procured me a Correspondence with divers Ingenious Persons residing in remoter Parts; and the like I could heartily wish my other Friends would do. 5. Mr. EDWARD BULKLEY, another Ingenious Surgeon at the same Place. This curious Person hath lately been pleased to send me thence 3 Volumes of Medicinal Plants, with their Names and Vertues annext; as also some Seeds, and a Materia Medica from Tonqueen; and formerly some from Persia. From this obliging Gentleman I have also farther Promises of Yearly Yearly Collections, as well from several other Parts of India, as of such as grow about him. 6. The Reverend Father GEORGE CAMELLI, a learned Jesuit; who hath been pleased to transmit to Mr. Ray and me, the Designs of such rare Medicinal Plants, with a large Account of their Vertue, Use, &c. as he hath experienced, and observed them to grow amongst the Philippine Islands, where he resides; some of which are already Published, and we hope e'er long to gratifie the World with something more from him. 7. Mr. WILLIAM CLERK, Surgeon, brought me lately some Plants and Seeds from Turkey. 8. Capt. JOHN CONWAY, my hearty and kind Friend; who, besides the care he took of several Collections, sent me from Fort St. George, the Cape of Good Hope, &c. procured me himself some Quires of Plants from the New Fort called Fort St. David, which is about 50 Leagues S. W. from Madrass. 9. Mr. CHARLES COOMBS, Surgeon, was so kind to collect me some Plants at Calabar, on the Coast of Africa; as also some others with some Insects from Maryland. 10. Mr. JAMES CUNINGHAME, Surgeon. A Learned and most industrious Promoter of Natural Philosophy, and extremely well qualified for such a Design; as I am very sensible, by the curious Remarks he hath made on most of the Plants, &c. he hath observed : having in a late Voyage to China made Collections wherever he touched, viz. 1. At Palma, one of the Canary Islands. 2. About Batavia in the Island of Java. 3. and 4. At Emuy and Colonshu, two Chinese Islands; from whence he also procured me the Paintings of near eight hundred several Plants in their Natural Colours, with their Names to all, and Vertues to many of them. In his return he visited the Streights of Malacca, the Cape of Good Hope, Island of Ascension, &c. at all these Places he not only collected Plants, with the Seeds of most of them, but also Insects, Shells, &c. and indeed whatever came in his way. A farther and more particular Account of these and many other things, the Publick may in time be acquainted with. 11. My kind Friend Mr. JOHN FOXE, Surgeon, sent me formerly a Collection of Plants, which he gathered at the Cape of Good Hope, and very lately some Shells from thence, as also 3 Quires of Plants from the Bay of Bengale. 12. The Reverend Mr. HUGH JONES, A very curious Person in all parts of Natural History; particularly in Fossils; some of which he hath sent me from Maryland with several Volumes of Plants very finely preserved; with divers Insects and Shells. From this obliging Gentleman, I am promised frequent remittances of whatever those Parts afford, as well Animals & Fossils as Vegetables. 13. Mr. 13. Mr. JEZREEL JONES. This worthy and kind Gentleman, in one Year whilst he was in Portugal (Secretary to his Excellency Mr. METHWYN our now Envoy) was pleased to make me considerable Collections every Month, of all the Plants he there observed, which he very curiously preserved: and after the same Monthly method, he sent me a great number of Insects; amongst them there were several altogether New to me and Strangers in England. To these he added what Shells and Fossils he there met with, as also some curious Reptiles. It were heartily to be wisht, that the Zeal and Industry of this Inquisitive Person, were imitated by such other curious Gentlemen, as may have occasion to travel or reside in more remoter Parts. 14. Mr. ROLESTON JACOBS. This young Gentleman was pleased to pick me up such curious Shells he met with amongst the Spicy and neighbouring Islands, being all or for the most part very fair as well as uncommon Shells. 15. Mr. WALTER KEIR. To this ingenious Surgeon I am obliged for some Plants, &c. he sent me from Jehore, in the Streights of Malacca, and I am in expectation of greater Performances from him. 16. Dr. DAVID KREIG, a German, Physician, and Fellow of our Royal Society. This curious Gentleman, after he had made several Remarks on the Natural Productions of this Island, and Painted several things he had here observed; was pleased to make a Voyage to Maryland, from whence he returned plentifully stored with what in Nature he had there taken notice of. His happy Genius in Designing, Painting, Etching, &c. were no small Additions to his other Qualifications; he being no less versed in the Study of Physick, than Anatomy, Botany, Chimistry, Natural Philosophy, and indeed whatever else is requisite to compleat a Physician. 17. Mr. SYLVANUS LANDON. Besides the Obligations I lye under to this worthy Gentleman and most ingenious Surgeon, for several Plants he formerly brought me from Cales, Alicant, Carthagena, and other Ports in Spain, and after that from the Island of Borneo in the East-Indies, with some very curious Serpents from thence: he hath been pleased lately to present me with the well-preserved Samples of such Trees, Herbs, &c. he has in a late Voyage observed on the Island of Flores; to these he has added the Shells of that and some other Islands in the East-Indies. In his return home, he also procured me the Remains of Dr. Oldenlands Collections at the Cape of Good Hope, with divers Reptiles, as Serpents, Lizzards, &c. from that most luxuriant Promontory. 18. I am very much oblig'd to Mr. GEORGE LONDON his Majesty's Gardener, who was pleased to present me with two two Volumes of dry Plants, very curiously Preserved, and collected at Maryland by my worthy Friend the Reverend Mr. Hugh Jones. 19. Mr. HENRY PASMORE. This Reverend Person was so kind to transmit me some Collections of Plants from the Island of Jamaica, with Promises of greater supplies, which I doubt not but he had performed had not Death prevented him. 20. Mr. RICHARD PLANER, Surgeon. This ingenious and hearty Friend made me formerly some Collections of Plants, Shells and Insects at Mount Serrado on the Coast of Africa: and in a Voyage since he got me other Collections from those Parts, with some very curious Insects off the Coast of Carthagena. 21. From Madam MARGARETHA HENDRINA van OTTEREN, Widow to that late most curious Botanist and Physician Dr. OLDENLAND, at the Cape of Good Hope, I have lately received the compleat Specimens of several Plants, very finely Preserved, and many of them such as I had not seen before; so that I am extremely obliged to this so generous a Benefactress, not only for these I have already received from her (and those formerly from her Learned Husband) but also for her kind Promises, in continuing to send me over whatever Plants that Fertile Promontory produces, with such Shells, Insects, Reptiles, Fossils, &c. as are there to be got. 22. Mr. JOHN RAY. To this most celebrated and worthy Author I stand indebted for many Favours, and particularly this last Summer, when I was with him, for some English Insects he was pleased to give me, which I had not before seen. 23. Mr. ROBERT RUTHERFORD, Surgeon. This hearty Person and kind Friend gathered me several Plants in Carolina, with some Insects and Shells he there observed. He hath also as I desired obliged some curious Persons that reside there, to hold a constant Correspondence with me. 24. Dr. FREDERICK RUYSCH, Anatomick and Botanick Professor in Amsterdam. To this most curious Person I am extremely obliged for several uncommon Reptiles, Insects, &c. which he was pleased formerly to favour me with; and since that I have received from him divers Exotick Plants, some of which I have not before not since seen. 25. Mr. STOCKER. This kind Person (and altogether a Stranger) was pleased to bring me a Collection of Shells, which he had pickt up in the Bay of Bengale, amongst them there were some very Curious. 26. Mr. ALEX. SYMPSON, Surgeon. This Gentleman was so kind lately to present me with the Samples of some Plants, very well Preserved, which he had observed about Gallipoli in Apulia. 27. Dr. 27. Dr. PITTON TOURNEFORT, Physician, one of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and Botanick Professor of the Royal Garden at PARIS. To this Celebrated Botanist I am obliged for some Alpine and Pyrenæan Plants he lately sent me, and am daily in expectation, according to his Promises, of greater Collections from him. 28. Mr. RICHARD WHEELER. This Person, my kind and hearty Friend, hath for many Years past, and doth still continue to send me all the Plants and Insects which he can get or procure me, about Long-Sound in NORWAY: many of the First being rare with us, and only to be met with in the North of England, and divers of the last are such I have not yet seen about London.
Petiver, Musei Petiveriani (1695-1703) 572. Dactylon Borneocum bicorne, spicâ sericeâ ferrugineâ aristatum. This my very worthy Friend, Mr. Sylvanus Landon brought me from Borneo.
Petiver, Gazophylacii Naturæ (1702-1706) 11. Cæcilia BORN. &c. Mus. nost. 106. The strip’d Snake of Borneo. This seems to be a familiar House-Snake, for my worthy Friend Mr Silvanus Landon caught him drinking in a Punch-bowl, after a sudden return with some Friends from it, in the Island Borneo.