Remembering English Loyalist and Botanist Alexander Garden: the Gardenia is his Namesake

April 15, 1791

Today is the anniversary of the death of the English botanist Alexander Garden.

Alexander’s story is fascinating, starting with the fact that he had the perfect last name for a botanist: Garden.

The Gardenia flower is named for him.

After immigrating from England, Alexander settled in Charleston, South Carolina.

One summer, Alexander found himself stuck in Charleston while many of his botanist friends were off exploring and botanizing.

In a letter to the botanist John Bartram, Alexander wrote,

Think that I am here, confined to the sandy streets of Charleston, where the ox, where the ass, and where man, as stupid as either, fill up the vacant space, while you range the green fields of Florida.

In a letter to John Ellis, Alexander wrote:

I know that every letter which I receive not only revives the little botanic spark in my breast but even increases its quantity and flaming force.

Alexander Garden holds a particular spot in my heart because that letter to John Ellis inspired the last segment of The Daily Gardener podcast: the Botanic Spark. Botanic Sparks are sweet stories to close the show that draw gardeners closer to gardening, as John Ellis' letters inspired Alexander Garden.

Alexander sympathized with the colonists when the Revolutionary War began but sided with the British. He couldn't help being a Loyalist.

Alexander’s son, Alex Jr., disagreed with his father and fought for the Americans.

As a consequence, Alexander and his son became estranged.

They never forgave each other.

A biographical sketch of Alexander sadly reported that Alexander’s son had a little girl named Gardenia.

But after their estrangement, Alexander never met his little granddaughter named to honor his botanical work.

When the war was over, Alexander and other British sympathizers were punished.

In Alexander’s case, his property was confiscated, and he was forced to leave South Carolina.

After losing everything, Alexander, his wife, and two daughters returned to London, where he became vice-president of the Royal Society.

He died of tuberculosis at age 61, on this day in 1791.