Amelia Griffiths

Amelia Griffiths (1768–1858), often referred to in contemporary works as Mrs Griffiths of Torquay, was a beachcomber and amateur phycologist who made many important collections of marine algae specimens.

Personal life Amelia Warren Rogers was born 14 January 1768 in Pilton, Devon, UK. Her parents were John and Emily (née Warren) Rogers. She married Rev. William Griffiths, the vicar of St Issey, Cornwall, in 1794, but after his death, she moved her family of five children to Torquay. She died in Torquay on 4 January 1858.

Collaboration and dedications She corresponded with the botanist William Henry Harvey for many years, becoming a close friend. They met at Torquay in 1839.

Harvey dedicated his 1849 Manual of British Algae to her, and once wrote Carl Adolph Agardh named Griffithsia in her honour in 1817.

One of her servants, Mary Wyatt, became involved in collecting and selling books of seaweeds as part of her business selling collectables and local souvenirs with assistance from Griffiths. At the request of Joseph Dalton Hooker, this collection was curated by phycologist Maria Emma Gray with Gray selected appropriate specimens to represent Griffiths types for algae species.