John Shepherd (Curator 1802 – 1836)
John Shepherd, the first curator of Liverpool Botanic Garden, was christened at Gosforth, Cumberland on 8 September 1765, although he could have been born a year earlier, as cited in the literature.
Little is known of John Shepherd’s earlier life before he was appointed curator of the Liverpool Botanic Garden. Even Hall (1838), who knew Henry Shepherd and probably also John, remarked that little was known about John Shepherd’s early life or where he was trained as a gardener.
It has been suggested that John Shepherd was head gardener to John Leigh Philips (1761 - 1841) an “Antiquarian” of Manchester but proof of this has not been found.
John Shepherd proved an inspirational choice. J.E. Smith is quoted as calling him “the properest man I ever saw for the purpose”.
Contacts throughout the world were exploited by Shepherd and his colleagues to acquire seeds, plants, specimens, and botanical books. He designed and created the Mount Pleasant Garden as well as the initial garden at Wavertree, when they acquired that land.
His network of contacts seems to have been global. As an example, a Westmorland paper in 1824 reports that Mr Shepherd in the previous spring had provided Mr John Phillips with a new species of kidney potato from Canada, which had performed remarkably well and would go into general use, if this year went just as well.
His Fame
Shepherd’s fame spread widely over the Northwest. In July 1824 the Preston Horticultural Society asked Dr (sic) Shepherd to judge their Green House, Hot House and Hardy Plants at their annual Show. He was described as ‘a gentleman in every way qualified to decide on the merits of the plants.’
St Petersburg Botanic Garden was being re-developed in the early 1820’s and in “August 1823, F. Falderman, recommended as head gardener by the Horticultural Society of London, brought with him a large collection, of plants partly purchased, partly obtained as gifts from Kew, Chiswick, Chelsea, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool”. The Director, Dr. Fischer arrived in May 1824, on “a journey to visit the most celebrated gardens. Fischer universally received proofs of good will from the managers, to whom our new establishment became indebted for most valuable additions. The purchases in England amounted to about 40,000 Rs., or £1,600, and the presents received ought to be valued at even more than that sum.”
Consequently, in March 1826, John Shepherd received a very valuable diamond ring as a present from the Emperor of Russia for these kindnesses and obligations.
To show the high esteem in which Mr Shepherd was held, the Horticultural Society presented him with a silver medal. The report of 1827 states: ‘No public garden in the United Kingdom is in a higher state of cultivation and in no similar Institution are stove and greenhouse plants in a more healthy and vigorous state. The anxious attention of Mr Shepherd continues to maintain the gardens in the same excellent order.’
The effort required to complete the transition to Wavertree was immense and more than likely lead to his death, aged 71, only a month after it was officially opened.