Born to Scottish parents, Philip Miller established himself as a leading figure in British botany during the early 18th century. He assumed the role of chief gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden in 1722, a position he held for nearly 50 years, where he oversaw the cultivation of a vast array of plant species and contributed significantly to the botanical knowledge of his time.

Miller is primarily recognized for his extensive writing on horticulture, most notably The Gardeners Dictionary, which became a standard reference text for gardeners and botanists alike. His work helped standardize botanical nomenclature and disseminated practical knowledge regarding the cultivation and classification of plants throughout the Enlightenment era.