| The Norfolk flower boy who
blossomed
April
21, 2004
Lindley Street
(Hall Road and City Road)
|
| John
Lindley on the cover of William T. Stearn’s
book which was published five years ago, and two
of his sketches |
He was the flower boy from Catton, the son of a humble
nurseryman, who grew up to be a world famous professor
of botany. John Lindley was born in February 1799. His
father, George Lindley, ran a nursery from the large
family home. He loved his work, but could never make
it pay.
He did what he could for his children and young John
went to Norwich Grammar School (now Norwich School)
where he was given a sound classical education. He was
also taught French and how to draw from a French refugee
in the city.
But John was happiest at home where he studied the wild
flowers which grew around his house and helped his father
in the nursery. His love of plants blossomed and in
1819 he left Norwich for London where he got a job working
with botanist Sir Joseph Banks.
It gave him access to the richest botanical library
in the land. He listened to the experts — young
John was in his element. He moved on to work for the
Horticultural Society, becoming assistant secretary
and then secretary — his talent, and his fame,
was growing tall.
John was elected Professor of Botany at the new University
of London.
He became director of Chelsea Physic Garden, editor
of the Botanical Register and editor of the Journal
of the Horticultural Society.
His work led to the setting up of the Royal Botanic
Gardens and he became the first botanist to work out
a classification of orchids.
A book all about this extraordinary and clever man was
published five years ago, and author William T Stearn
said: “He was one of the most eminent, industrious,
versatile, public-spirited and productive of Victorians.”
His great love of orchids made him Britain’s pioneer
orchidologist — and he was a highly talented illustrator.
John was married to Sarah. They had three children and
their daughters, Sarah and Barbara, went on to become
talented artists and were taught by the Norwich-born
painter Charles Fox.
John Lindley died in 1865 but his name lives on both
in Norwich and at the Royal Horticultural Society where
the library – the finest of its kind in the world
— is named after him.
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