John Gould Veitch
Encyclopedia
John Gould Veitch was a horticulturist
and traveller, one of the first Victorian
plant hunters to visit Japan. A great-grandson of John Veitch
, the founder of the Veitch horticulture
dynasty, he also visited the Philippines, Australia, Fiji, and other Polynesian islands.
He brought back a number of the glasshouse plants in vogue at the time, such as Acalypha
s, Cordyline
s, Codiaeum
s (Crotons) and Dracaena
s, and, from Fiji, a palm of a new genus later named after him, Veitchia joannis
. The Veitch family name is honoured by hundreds of plant names, including the genus Veitchia
.
In Japan, he came across the eminent plant collector Robert Fortune
, and their competing collections returned to England on the same ship. For example, both men claimed discovery of a species of Chamaecyparis pisifera
.
He was married to Jane Hodge soon after his return to England in 1866 and fathered two sons, James Herbert Veitch
(1868 – 1907) and John Gould Veitch, Jr.
(1869 – 1914) before dying of tuberculosis
at the age of 31.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
and traveller, one of the first Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
plant hunters to visit Japan. A great-grandson of John Veitch
John Veitch (horticulturist)
John Veitch was the founder of the Veitch horticulture dynasty who created the Exeter based firm of Veitch Nurseries.Veitch was born in Ancrum, near Jedburgh, Scotland, but left Scotland at an early age and walked to London to seek employment and his fortune. He found employment with the nursery...
, the founder of the Veitch horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
dynasty, he also visited the Philippines, Australia, Fiji, and other Polynesian islands.
He brought back a number of the glasshouse plants in vogue at the time, such as Acalypha
Acalypha
Acalypha is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae. It is the sole genus of the subtribe Acalyphinae. With 450 to 500 species of herbs and shrubs, the genus is only behind Euphorbia, Croton and Phyllanthus in term of Malpighiales diversity...
s, Cordyline
Cordyline
Cordyline is a genus of about 15 species of woody monocotyledonous flowering plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Lomandroideae. The subfamily has previously been treated as a separate family Laxmanniaceae, or Lomandraceae. Other authors have placed the genus in the Agavaceae...
s, Codiaeum
Codiaeum
Codiaeum is a genus of plants under the family Euphorbiaceae. It comprises about 16 species, found from Malesia to the Pacific. They are shrubs with leathery leaves and often confused with the genus Croton...
s (Crotons) and Dracaena
Dracaena (plant)
Dracaena is a genus of about 40 species of trees and succulent shrubs. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae . It has also formerly been separated into the family Dracaenaceae or placed in the Agavaceae...
s, and, from Fiji, a palm of a new genus later named after him, Veitchia joannis
Veitchia joannis
Veitchia joannis, or the Joannis Palm, is a species of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It is endemic to Fiji.-References:* Fuller, D. 1998. . Downloaded on 20 July 2007.-External links:**...
. The Veitch family name is honoured by hundreds of plant names, including the genus Veitchia
Veitchia
Veitchia is a genus of flowering plant in the Arecaceae family.It contains the following species:* Veitchia filifera* Veitchia joannis * Veitchia macdanielsii* Veitchia merrillii* Veitchia metiti...
.
In Japan, he came across the eminent plant collector Robert Fortune
Robert Fortune
Robert Fortune was a Scottish botanist and traveller best known for introducing tea plants from China to India.-Travels and botanical introductions to Europe:Fortune was born in Kelloe, Berwickshire...
, and their competing collections returned to England on the same ship. For example, both men claimed discovery of a species of Chamaecyparis pisifera
Chamaecyparis pisifera
Chamaecyparis pisifera Chamaecyparis pisifera Chamaecyparis pisifera (Sawara Cypress or Sawara is a species of false cypress, native to central and southern Japan, on the islands of Honshū and Kyūshū....
.
He was married to Jane Hodge soon after his return to England in 1866 and fathered two sons, James Herbert Veitch
James Herbert Veitch
James Herbert Veitch F.L.S., F.R.H.S. , was a member of the Veitch family who were distinguished horticulturists and nursery-men for over a century.- Early days :...
(1868 – 1907) and John Gould Veitch, Jr.
John Veitch (footballer)
John Gould Veitch was an English amateur footballer, who played for the Corinthian club in the 1890s. He made one appearance for England playing at inside left in 1894, in which he scored a hat trick.-Family and education:...
(1869 – 1914) before dying of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at the age of 31.