About David Douglas (botanist)
David Douglas (25 June 1799 – 12 July 1834) was a Scottish botanist, best known as the namesake of the Douglas fir. He worked as a gardener, and explored the Scottish Highlands, North America and Hawaii, where he died. The standard author abbreviation Douglas is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name. == Early life == Douglas was born in Scone, Perthshire, the second son of John Douglas, a stonemason, and Jean Drummond. At around the age of seven, he attended a school in a neighboring parish, where he became known for his tardiness and truancy, preferring to explore the countryside during his two-mile walk to class. He attended school in Kinnoull, on the eastern banks of the River Tay, and upon leaving found work as an apprentice to William Beattie, head gardener at nearby Scone Palace, the seat of the Earl of Mansfield. He spent seven years in this position, completing his apprenticeship, and then spent a winter at a college in Perth to learn more of the scientific and mathematical aspects of plant culture. After a further spell of working at Valleyfield House in Fife (during which time he had access to a library of botanical and zoological books), he moved to the Botanical Gardens of Glasgow University and attended botany lectures. William Jackson Hooker, who was Garden Director and Professor of Botany, was greatly impressed with him and took him on an expedition to the Scottish Highlands before recommending him to the Royal Horticultural Society as a plant collector. == Explorations == Douglas made three separate trips from Britain to North America.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.