Biography Gilbert White

Poet Biography

Gilbert White (1720-1793) was born and died in Selborne, Hampshire, England. He was later to become famed as a great naturalist, and put Selborne on the map with his book 'Tha Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne'. He was ordained as a priest after graduating from Oriel College, Oxford; but never actually practiced in Selborne, and instead focused on writing about natural history to pay his way. Gilberts home in Selborne was a small building that at one stage had been a butchers; and in 1756 he apparently planted four lime trees in order to 'hide the sight of blood and filth from ye windows'. You can still visit his gardens today.