George Thurtell

It was on this day in 1832 that George Thurtell held his impressive ranunculus show.
 
It was said that Thurtell had exhibited between 700 and 800 blooms; including 360 varieties.
 
They were preeminent in beauty, variety, color, form, and size.
 
Fourteen years after his ranunculus show, Thurtell was fined for horse-whipping a journalist on April 30, 1846.
 
Two years later, he pled guilty to stealing from a house where he was living as the gardener. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and he died serving his sentence.