This is a list of Directors of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: * 1759–1793 William Aiton * 1793–1841 William Townsend Aiton * 1841–1865 Sir William Jackson Hooker * 1865–1885 Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker * 1885–1905 Sir William Turner Thiselton-Dyer * 1905–1922 Sir David Prain * 1922–1941 Sir Arthur William Hill * 1941–1943 Sir Geoffrey Evans (acting) * 1943–1956 Sir Edward Salisbury * 1956–1971 Sir George Taylor * 1971–1976 Jack Heslop-Harrison * 1976–1981 Professor John Patrick Micklethwait Brenan * 1981–1988 Professor Arthur Bell * 1988–1999 Sir Ghillean Prance * 1999–2006 Professor Sir Peter Crane * 2006–2012 Professor Stephen D. Hopper * 2012–present Richard Deverell