Thomas blaikie biography
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Thomas blaikie biography!
Thomas Blaikie (gardener)
Scottish gardener (1751–1838)
Thomas Blaikie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 February 1750 Corstorphine Hill |
| Died | 19 July 1838 Paris |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation(s) | Botanist and gardener |
Thomas Blaikie (11 February 1750 – 19 July 1838) was a Scottish botanist and gardener born on Corstorphine Hill, which was at the time just outside Edinburgh.[1]
Career
Between 1775 and 1776 he was tasked by John Fothergill and William Pitcairn with travelling the Alps to collect and record rare species of plants.
Whilst there he met Voltaire and travelled with Michel-Gabriel Paccard, who received later fame for achieving the first ascent of Mont Blanc.[2]
After briefly returning to Britain, Blaikie worked on the gardens of the Comte de Lauraguais in Normandy, before a failure to pay Blaikie ended his employment.
From 1778 Blaikie passed into the employment of the Comte d'Artois, younger brother of Louis XVI and later to become