occupation peter veitch
The Veitch Nurseries were the largest group of family - run plant nurseries in Europe during the 19th century . Started by John Veitch sometime before 1808 , the original nursery grew substantially over several decades and was eventually split into two separate businesses  based at Chelsea and Exeter  as it became unfeasible to run the whole operation from one location . Famous plant hunters in the Victorian period employed by the Veitch family include the brothers Thomas Lobb and William Lobb from Cornwall and the Scottish plant ___MASK8___ David Bowman . The Veitch ' s ability to rear exotic plants is noted in William Jackson Hooker ' s description of " Verticordia nitens ", and they were able to supply a specimen for its illustration . William Lobb ( 1809  3 May 1864 ) was a Cornish plant ___MASK8___ , employed by Veitch Nurseries of Exeter , who was responsible for the ___MASK35___ introduction to England of " Araucaria araucana " ( the monkey - puzzle tree ) from Chile and the massive " Sequoiadendron giganteum " ( Wellingtonia ) from North America . Thomas Lobb ( 1817  1894 ) was a British ___MASK78___ and , along with his older brother , William Lobb , collected plants for the plant nursery Veitch . Sir William Jackson Hooker ( 6 July 1785  12 August 1865 ) was an English systematic ___MASK78___ and organiser , and botanical illustrator . He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University , and was Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens , Kew . He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring , collecting and organising work . His son , Joseph Dalton Hooker , succeeded him to the Directorship of Kew Gardens . Peter Christian Massyn Veitch ( February 1850 -- 1929 ) was a member of the family of horticulturists who established the renowned family business Veitch Nurseries .