Thomas Fairchild (gardener) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thomas Fairchild
Born	1667
Died	10 October 1729
Nationality	British
Occupation	gardener

Thomas Fairchild (born around 1667, died October 10, 1729) was a famous English gardener who worked in London. He was known as a top nurseryman, which means he grew and sold plants. Thomas Fairchild talked with important scientists like Carl Linnæus. He also did experiments that helped prove that plants have "sex" or reproduce, a fact many scientists didn't believe back then.

In 1716, Thomas Fairchild was the first person to scientifically create a new plant by mixing two different types. This is called an artificial hybrid. He made a plant known as "Fairchild's Mule." It was a mix between a Sweet William flower and a Carnation pink. He carefully took pollen from a Sweet William using a feather and brushed it onto the part of the Carnation flower called the stigma. The new plant grew the next spring.

Fairchild was a bit worried about his success. Many people at that time believed that all plant types were created by God exactly as they were. He feared he was changing nature's plan. When he showed his new plant to the Royal Society (a group of scientists) in 1720, he even said it was an accident.

He also brought new plants to England, like the red buckeye tree and the American flowering dogwood. He got some plants from Dutch growers, but he was also one of the first to bring many plants from the eastern coast of British America. His garden became famous because he could make more than twenty different types of plants bloom even in December, which was amazing for England back then.

As a leading gardener interested in science, he wrote a book called The City Gardener in 1722. He also helped create a list of trees and shrubs sold in gardens near London. He even gave a talk to the Royal Society. Thomas Fairchild was so well-known that a painting of him has been kept by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford for hundreds of years.

Life of Thomas Fairchild

Thomas Fairchild started his plant nursery business around 1690 in Hoxton, a part of London. His nursery was not very big, about half an acre, but it was close to the main City of London. Other famous gardeners of his time, like Richard Bradley, mentioned how many different kinds of fruits he grew.

Fairchild passed away on October 10, 1729, when he was about 62 years old. He was buried in a churchyard in Shoreditch. In his will, he left most of his property to his nephew, John Bacon, who was also a gardener. Thomas Fairchild also left money for a special annual sermon (a religious talk) about "the wonderful works of God in the Creation." This sermon is still given today at St Giles, Cripplegate church and is attended by the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

Thomas Fairchild's Books and Papers

In 1722, Thomas Fairchild published his small book, The City Gardener. This book described the best trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers that could grow well in London. He wrote that pear trees still grew good fruit in areas like Barbican and Aldersgate. He also noted that a vine in 'Leicester Fields' produced good grapes every year, and that figs and mulberries grew well in the city.

In 1724, Fairchild became even more famous after he gave a talk to the Royal Society. This talk was later printed in a science journal called Philosophical Transactions. It was about how sap (plant fluid) moves in plants and trees. Besides these, he might have also written an anonymous book called A Treatise on the Manner of Fallowing Ground, Raising of Grass Seeds, and Training Lint and Hemp.

Around 1725, a group of gardeners in London started a society, and Fairchild joined them. They met every month to show each other plants they had grown. They would compare the plants and write down their names and descriptions. Later, they decided to share what they learned. They created a book called A Catalogue of Trees and Shrubs both Exotic and Domestic which are propagated for Sale in the Gardens near London. This book had pictures drawn by Jacob Van Huysum.

Thomas Fairchild's Legacy

Thomas Fairchild's influence continues today. The annual "Fairchild Sermon" is still given each year, as he wished. Also, a public park in Hoxton, near Columbia Road Market, is named Fairchild's Garden. The Thomas Fairchild Community School in Shoreditch is also named in his honor.