William Sole

William Sole (1739 – 7 February 1802) was a British apothecary and botanist.

The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states that William Sole was born in 1741 in Little Thetford, Cambridgeshire, However, evidence suggest that he was born in 1739 and Baptised on 28 September in Witchford, Cambridgeshire.

William Sole was the first son of John and Martha Sole. Sometime after his birth, the family moved to Little Thetford. John and Martha had a further six children. John ( 14 June 1741), Sarah ( 15 May 1743), Elizabeth ( 24 February 1744), Francis ( 19 February 1748), Robert ( 13 May 1750), Martha ( 3 October 1752). In his will dated 15 March 1802, Sole mentions all of his siblings, with the exception of Elizabeth.

Sole studied at King's Ely, then served an apprenticeship as an apothecary in Cambridge. On qualifying, he moved to Bath, where he practised is profession from premises in Trim Street with partner Thomas West. During their partnership, Sole and West brought at least five apprentices into their business. This partnership ended in 1895 and Sole continued to work alone until his death in 1802.

It is Sole's botanical research that he is most noted for. He specialised in the study of mints, in his garden and by the specimens he collected from a number of places in the United Kingdom. In 1798, he published Menthae Britannicae, and this was the publication that he became most known for. He also researched grasses and the local flora of Bath, and was elected as one of the first associates of the Linnean Society.

William Sole made his will shortly before his death on 15 January 1802 Sole, W., 1798. Menthae Britannicae: being a new botanical arrangement of all the British mints hitherto discovered The book included 24 full-plate etchings, all executed by William Hibbert from artwork by several artists. Sole, W., 1799. On the principal English grasses To be found in vol. 9 of Letters and papers on agriculture, planting, &c ... A journal published by the Royal Bath & West of England Society (as it is now known). This article included pull out illustrations, engraved by Hibbert, of twelve samples collected by Sole. Sole, W., n.d. An account of the principal English grasses, with descriptions of their respective excellencies and defects in regard to agricultural uses ... with accurate drawings of each species of grass . Also known by the short title of ‘Sole’s Book of Grasses’ this is a folio of hand painted illustrations said to have been donated to the Bath & West of England Society by William Sole. It is held in the Bath & West Library Collection at the University of Bath Library. Bath Philosophical Society papers Sole also contributed papers to the Bath Philosophical Society, though these papers are lost

Meadow foxtail grass. Artist unknown. lllustration created for William Sole's book of grasses