Arnott, Samuel (1852–1930), gardener and politician, was born above his father's baker's shop at the corner of Friar's Vennel, Dumfries, on 30 September 1852, the son of John Arnott (d. 1858) and his wife, Nicholas Richardson. His father, who was descended from a line of farmers and lead miners in the parish of ...
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Toby Musgrave
Barnes, James (bap. 1806, d. 1877), gardener, was born at Farnham, Surrey, where he was baptized on 6 July 1806, the son of Stephen Barnes (1778–1852) and his wife, Susanna Norton (1781/2–1855). His father was head gardener at Willey House...
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James Barnes (bap. 1806, d. 1877) by Elliott & Fry Royal Horticultural Society, Lindley Library
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M. C. Curthoys
Barr, Peter (1826–1909), seedsman and nurseryman, was born at Govan, Lanarkshire, on 20 April 1826, the seventh of twelve sons of James Barr, owner of a muslin weaving mill, and his wife, Mary, née Findlay. When his father's business suffered a financial setback the sons had to find work and ...
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Peter Barr (1826–1909) by unknown photographer © reserved
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Francesca Greenoak
Beales, Peter Leslie (1936–2013), rose breeder and historian, was born on 22 July 1936 at May Farm, Banningham, Norfolk, the elder child and only son of Evelyn May Beales (1916–2006), domestic servant, who in 1938 married Walter John Howes (1900–1970). He was brought up for his first eight years by his maternal grandparents and their family, and then by his mother and stepfather. He rejoiced in his early childhood and the garden where he recalled that the only ornamental plant among greens and vegetables was a fine bush of the rose ‘Maiden's blush’ cherished by his grandfather (who died when ...
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Janet Waymark
Beaton, Donald (1802–1863), gardener, was born on 8 March 1802, 'about sixteen miles from the then parish church of Urray, in Strathconon, Rosshire' (Beaton, Autobiography), the son of Donald Beaton. While Beaton was small his father moved the family to ...
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See Grieve [née Law], Sophia Emma Magdalene [Maud]
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Bunyard, Edward Ashdown (1878–1939), nurseryman and pomologist, was born on 14 December 1878 at 74 King Street, Maidstone, the eldest son of George Bunyard (1841–1919), nurseryman, and his wife, Katherine Sophia Ashdown. His father was born on 5 February 1841 at ...
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See Bunyard, Edward Ashdown
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Busch, John (c. 1730–1795), nurseryman and landscape gardener, was born at Lüneburg, Hanover. Christened Johann, he later signed himself Johann Busch, John Busch, or John Bush. The family retained the spelling Busch. Although his early education and training are uncertain, it is likely that he studied gardening in ...
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Coltman, William Harold (1891–1974), soldier and gardener, was born at The Common, Tatenhill, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, on 17 November 1891, the fourth son of Charles Coltman (1851/2–1903), gardener's labourer, and his wife, Annie, née Gopsill. He left school aged thirteen, and helped his mother to support the family after his father's death, working as a journeyman market gardener. On 8 January 1913 he married, at Burton upon Trent record office, ...
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William Harold Coltman (1891–1974) by unknown photographer The Staffordshire Regiment Museum
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B. D. Jackson
revised by Alexander Goldbloom
Curtis, Samuel (1779–1860), nurseryman and magazine editor, was born at Alton, Hampshire, on 29 August 1779, the son of James Curtis and his wife, Sarah, who were Quakers. In 1800 he acquired Walworth nursery which he held until about 1825. In 1801 he married ...
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D'Ombrain, Henry Honywood (1818–1905), Church of England clergyman and gardener, was born in Ebury Street, Pimlico, London, on 10 May 1818, the son of Admiral Sir James D'Ombrain (1793–1871), inspector-general of the Coast Guard in Ireland from 1819 to 1849, for which he was knighted in 1844, and his wife, ...
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Suki Urquhart
Eckford, Henry (1823–1905), gardener and hybridist, was born at Stenhouse, near Liberton, Midlothian, on 17 May 1823, the seventh of eight children of James Eckford (1780–1826), a well-to-do farmer, and his wife, Isabel, née Pirie (1794–1876). His father died when he was still in infancy. He attended school in the ...
