Richard Watson Dickson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Watson Dickson
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| Born | 9 November 1759 |
| Died | 17 September 1824 (aged 64) |
| Alma mater | St Andrew's University |
| Known for | Writings on agriculture |
Richard Watson Dickson (born November 9, 1759 – died September 17, 1824) was a smart person who worked as both a doctor and an expert in farming. He wrote many books about how to grow crops and manage farms.
Contents
Who Was Richard Watson Dickson?
Richard Watson Dickson was born on November 9, 1759, in a place called Warton, near Carnforth in Lancashire, England. He was the oldest son of William and Mary Watson.
His Early Life and Family
Richard first married Elizabeth Parkinson on April 16, 1785. Sadly, she passed away when she was young, and they did not have any children.
He then studied medicine and earned his M.D. degree from St Andrew's University in Scotland on May 25, 1787. Later, on January 24, 1789, he married Lucretia Morris in London. At that time, he was living in Birmingham. Between 1790 and 1799, Richard and Lucretia had six children together.
The family first lived in London Charterhouse, where Richard might have worked as a doctor. Around 1798, they moved to Hendon, which is in Middlesex.
Later Years and Challenges
Richard became very interested in farming and spent a lot of time writing about it. However, by 1812, he faced some money problems. He and his wife separated. By the time he passed away in 1824, he was living with his cousin, Jane Dickson, in Camberwell, London.
Richard Watson Dickson died on September 17, 1824. His cousin Jane was very protective of him. She said he left behind many writings that were never published, including a story about his own life. Sadly, all these writings are now lost.
Richard Dickson's Books and Writings
Richard Watson Dickson wrote many important books and articles about farming and gardening. He helped people learn better ways to grow food and care for plants.
Books on Farming and Gardening
Here are some of the books he wrote:
- Practical Agriculture (1805): This book was about practical farming methods. It was so popular that it was even translated into German!
- Dictionary of Practical Gardening (1807): This was a helpful guide for gardeners. He published it under the name Alexander MacDonald.
- Grammar of Gardening (1810): Another book to help people understand gardening better.
- The Farmer's Companion (1810): A guide for farmers.
- The New Botanic Garden (1812): This book explored new ideas in gardening.
- The New Flora Britannica (1812): This book was about the plants of Britain.
- General View of the Agriculture of Lancashire (1815): A detailed look at farming in his home county.
- Cattle Management (1822): A book focused on how to care for farm animals.
Other Contributions
Richard also wrote articles for big encyclopedias of his time:
- For Rees's Cyclopædia, he wrote about farming and weather. He might have also written about other topics like rural economy and gardening.
- He also contributed to The English Encyclopaedia in 1802.
