David Douglas

Early Life and Career

Born in Scone, Perthshire, Douglas began his career as an apprentice gardener at Scone Palace. His talent was recognized by Sir William Jackson Hooker, Professor of Botany at the University of Glasgow, who recommended him to the Royal Horticultural Society of London. 

Expeditions and Discoveries

Between 1823 and 1834, Douglas undertook several arduous expeditions, primarily to the Pacific Northwest of North America, where he faced numerous hardships including extreme weather, injury, and dangerous encounters with wildlife and Native Americans. He introduced about 240 plant species to Britain that were previously unknown to European science. 

His most significant introductions include:

• Conifers: The iconic Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Sitka spruce, noble fir, grand fir, and the sugar pine, many of which became vital to commercial forestry in Britain.

• Ornamental Plants: Common garden staples such as the California poppy, flowering currant, and large-leaved lupine. 

His journals, which detailed his travels and findings, were a significant contribution to botanical knowledge. 

Mysterious Death and Legacy

Douglas died under mysterious circumstances in Hawaii on July 12, 1834, at the age of 35. He was found trampled by a wild bull in a pit trap, leading some to suspect foul play by an escaped convict named Edward Gurney, who was the last person to see him alive. 

Over eighty species of plants and animals have been named in his honour, and his name is commemorated in schools, parks, and monuments in Scotland and the American Northwest.