John Dominy

John Dominy (1816 – 12 February 1891) was a British horticulturist and plant hybridiser.[1] He is best known as a gardener at the Veitch Nurseries, where he worked most of his life, first at James and James Veitch in Exeter (1834–1841) and later at the group's Chelsea-based business (c. 1846–1880).[2] In 1856 Dominy flowered the first known manmade orchid hybrid, Calanthe × dominii (Calanthe masuca × Calanthe triplicata).[3][4][5] He is also noted for hybridising Nepenthes and fuchsias.[2] During his time at the Veitch Nurseries, Dominy mentored John Seden, who would go on to become a distinguished hybridist in his own right.[6]

John Dominy

Life

Dominy was born in Gittisham, near Honiton in South Devon in 1816. He served his apprenticeship as a gardener for a private household before, in 1834, he joined the nursery of Lucombe, Pince & Co. in Exeter. He stayed there a few months before joining the nearby Veitch Nurseries. He remained with Veitch initially until 1841 before being appointed head gardener to J. P. Magor of Redruth in Cornwall.[1]

After spending nearly five years at Redruth, Dominy returned to the Veitch Nurseries, working both at Exeter and the firm's new branch in Chelsea, before poor health forced his retirement in 1880.[1]

gollark: That never happened.
gollark: Not currently.
gollark: I mean, ignoring the unpatched sandbox... unintended features?
gollark: Besides, potatOS is very secure.
gollark: Ignore the heretic.

References
  1. Veitch, James (1906). "Lives of hybridists: John Dominy". Hortus Veitchii. London: James Veitch & Sons. pp. 99–101.
  2. John Dominy Archived 2015-09-10 at the Wayback Machine. Darwin Correspondence Project.
  3. Veitch Nurseries: Who were the James Veitch Nurseries? Caradoc Doy.
  4. Harry James Veitch: 1840 – 1924. Archived 2015-07-13 at the Wayback Machine Northwest Orchid Society.
  5. Significant developments in the history of orchid hybrids and their registration. Archived 2013-08-08 at the Wayback Machine Royal Horticultural Society.
  6. The Three Johns. Exeter City Council.
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