Mr George London

George London was a pioneering nurseryman whose name became synonymous with landscape design and horticultural innovation in 17th-century England. Born in 1640 in Bourn, Cambridgeshire, London's career spanned several decades and left an indelible mark on the English gardening tradition.

London's passion for plants and gardening likely stemmed from his upbringing in the English countryside, where he would have been exposed to the beauty of nature from an early age. His exact education and training in horticulture are not well-documented, but by the time he reached adulthood, he had developed a keen eye for landscape design and a deep knowledge of plant cultivation.

In the mid-17th century, England was undergoing a horticultural revolution, with a growing interest in gardening and landscaping among the aristocracy and gentry. London seized upon this opportunity and established himself as a prominent nurseryman in the London area. His nursery, located in the suburb of Brompton, quickly gained renown for its wide variety of plants, including ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.

London's reputation as a nurseryman was not solely built on the diversity of his plant stock but also on his innovative methods of cultivation. He experimented with techniques such as grafting and hybridization, producing new and exotic varieties of plants that captivated his clientele. His expertise extended beyond mere cultivation; he also offered valuable advice on garden design and plant care, earning him the admiration of his peers and clients alike.

One of London's most significant contributions to the field of horticulture was his collaboration with fellow nurseryman Henry Wise. Together, they formed a formidable partnership that revolutionized English garden design. London provided the plants, while Wise applied his skill as a landscape architect, creating some of the most iconic gardens of the era. Their work was highly sought after by the English nobility, and they were responsible for designing and landscaping numerous estates and royal gardens across the country.

London's legacy endured long after his death in 1714. His nursery continued to thrive under successive generations of his family, maintaining its reputation as a premier source of plants and expertise. Additionally, his influence on English garden design persisted, with many of his principles and techniques shaping the landscape of the country for centuries to come.

References:

1. Hadfield, Miles. "George London and the Search for a Horticultural Eden." Garden History, vol. 34, no. 1, 2006, pp. 82–84.
2. Hunt, John Dixon. The Genius of the Place: The English Landscape Garden, 1620-1820. MIT Press, 2000.
3. Taylor, Patrick. The Oxford Companion to the Garden. Oxford University Press, 2006.

Sources:

Hadfield, Miles et. al., British Gardeners: A Biographical Dictionary (London: A. Zwemmer, 1980), pp. 188-189.

Harris, John, ‘London, George (d. 1714)’, rev., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004) <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/...; [accessed 17 December 2007]