Charles Lawson (nurseryman)

Charles Lawson of Borthwick Hall (1795–1873) was a Scottish nurseryman and merchant, noted for the introduction of foreign crops into the United Kingdom.[1] He served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1862 to 1865.[2]

Charles Lawson of Borthwick Hall
Born1795
Edinburgh
Died1873
NationalityScottish
Alma materEdinburgh High School
Edinburgh University
Occupationnurseryman
merchant
Spouse(s)Patricia Grant
Parents
  • Peter Lawson (father)
  • Patricia Grant (mother)

Life

He was born in Edinburgh, son of the seed merchant Peter Lawson and his wife Patricia Grant. The family live at 19 Blair Street, a street joining the Royal Mile to the Cowgate.[3]

He was educated at Edinburgh High School and Edinburgh University. His father died in 1821, and Charles then took over the family business Peter Lawson & Son.[1]

In Edinburgh he lived at 35 George Square. In 1851 he purchased Borthwick Hall near Gorebridge in Midlothian.[4]

He was connected to the huge Lawson-Donaldson Seed Warehouse off the Shore in Leith.

Successful on a national scale, Lawson became a specialist in grass seeds and conifers. The Cupressus lawsoniana was named after him.[1]

Artistic Recognition

He was portrayed in office by John Graham Gilbert.[5]

Notes
  1. Curthoys, M. C. "Lawson, Charles". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/96787. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. Grants Old and New Edinburgh
  3. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1800
  4. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1850
  5. https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/charles-lawson-of-borthwick-hall-d-1874-lord-provost-of-edinburgh-18621865-93341
gollark: Anarchoprimitivism: for when you want to die of preventable diseases after living a life where you had to hunter-gather all day with no modern conveniences!
gollark: Oh, anarchoprimitivists.
gollark: Anarcho-anarchism?
gollark: Anarchism is like communism in that it sort of sounds good if you don't look too hard, but it is impractical and bad.
gollark: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWHY
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