Horticulturist, Author, Architect. Sir Joseph Paxton was one of the Victorian era's greatest architects and horticulturists. By designing and building greenhouses, he became interested in horticulture. He was entirely self-taught. In 1823 he obtained a position at the Horticultural Society's Chiswick Gardens, which were adjacent to the William George Spencer Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire's garden at Chiswick House. Initially in 1826, he was employed as gardener at the 105-acre Chatsworth Gardens, though he is most famous for designing the Crystal Palace, for the Great Exhibition of 1851. After the completion of the Crystal Palace, Paxton earned his knighthood in 1851 from Queen Victoria. In 1832, Paxton was appointed Manager to the Duke of Devonshire's estates and eventually all the Duke's business affairs. He created lakes, arboreta, and greenhouses, and designed garden plans for other estates on contract. He designed the Paris home for the Rothschilds family. He created the village of Edensor, near Chatsworth, along with several public parks. Although he could no longer do the physical tasks, he remained Head Gardener at Chatsworth until 1858. He cultivated the Cavendish banana, the most consumed banana in the Western world. To withstand the cold winters of England, he successfully built in 1850 the lily house for the rare tropical waterlily, "Victoria regia," which bloomed two years later in England. He was well-published including his monthly magazine "The Horticultural Register," which started in 1831; the "Magazine of Botany," which started in 1834; the "Pocket Botanical Dictionary" in 1840, "The Flower Garden" in 1850; the "Calendar of Gardening Operations," and co-authored "The Gardeners' Chronicle," which was started in 1841 and continued to be published for 150 years. He was the owner of the liberal newspaper, "Daily News." Paxton was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1854 until his death in 1865. He was a promotor of the railways in England. Among his honors, he was fellow of the Horticultural and Linnean Societies, a member of the Society of Arts, and a Knight of St. Vladimir, of Russia. According to his obituary, he married, in 1827, Mary, third daughter of Thomas Down, Esq., of Huntbridge House, Matlock, Derbyshire. The couple had two sons and five daughters. His oldest son, William, died at age seven in December of 1835.
Horticulturist, Author, Architect. Sir Joseph Paxton was one of the Victorian era's greatest architects and horticulturists. By designing and building greenhouses, he became interested in horticulture. He was entirely self-taught. In 1823 he obtained a position at the Horticultural Society's Chiswick Gardens, which were adjacent to the William George Spencer Cavendish, the 6th Duke of Devonshire's garden at Chiswick House. Initially in 1826, he was employed as gardener at the 105-acre Chatsworth Gardens, though he is most famous for designing the Crystal Palace, for the Great Exhibition of 1851. After the completion of the Crystal Palace, Paxton earned his knighthood in 1851 from Queen Victoria. In 1832, Paxton was appointed Manager to the Duke of Devonshire's estates and eventually all the Duke's business affairs. He created lakes, arboreta, and greenhouses, and designed garden plans for other estates on contract. He designed the Paris home for the Rothschilds family. He created the village of Edensor, near Chatsworth, along with several public parks. Although he could no longer do the physical tasks, he remained Head Gardener at Chatsworth until 1858. He cultivated the Cavendish banana, the most consumed banana in the Western world. To withstand the cold winters of England, he successfully built in 1850 the lily house for the rare tropical waterlily, "Victoria regia," which bloomed two years later in England. He was well-published including his monthly magazine "The Horticultural Register," which started in 1831; the "Magazine of Botany," which started in 1834; the "Pocket Botanical Dictionary" in 1840, "The Flower Garden" in 1850; the "Calendar of Gardening Operations," and co-authored "The Gardeners' Chronicle," which was started in 1841 and continued to be published for 150 years. He was the owner of the liberal newspaper, "Daily News." Paxton was a Liberal Member of Parliament for Coventry from 1854 until his death in 1865. He was a promotor of the railways in England. Among his honors, he was fellow of the Horticultural and Linnean Societies, a member of the Society of Arts, and a Knight of St. Vladimir, of Russia. According to his obituary, he married, in 1827, Mary, third daughter of Thomas Down, Esq., of Huntbridge House, Matlock, Derbyshire. The couple had two sons and five daughters. His oldest son, William, died at age seven in December of 1835.
Bio by: Kieran Smith
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