Born: 12 Oct 1827, Scotland
Died: 10 Nov 1895, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Field: Chemist and Botanist
George Lawson, “the father of Canadian botany,” was the first Canadian resident to hold a doctorate in botany. He taught at Queen’s and Dalhousie Universities and served as Secretary of Agriculture for Nova Scotia. He explored the flora of Canada West [Ontario] and Nova Scotia, published papers on the ferns and flowering plants, and did much to encourage botanical studies by amateurs.
He was a co-founder of the Botanical Society of Canada in December, 1860. He was a charter member of the Royal Society of Canada and from 1887 to 1888 was its President.
Lawson actively supported the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science (later the Nova Scotian Institute of Science), serving on its executive and presenting papers that were published in its transactions. At his death he was President of the Nova Scotian Institute of Science.
Related Links
Bibliography
George Lawson (botanist)
Dictionary of Canadian Biography: George Lawson