John Goldie

Who was John Goldie?

John Goldie was a Scottish-born botanist and author. He is credited with recording the existence of fourteen plant species previously unknown to science.

He was born in Kirkoswald, the son of William Goudie and Janet McClure. Goldie apprenticed as a gardener and was employed at the Glasgow Botanic Garden. In 1815, he married Margaret Smith, the daughter of a local botanist and florist. In 1817, Goldie was able to raise enough money to voyage to North America to collect botanical samples. Unfortunately, his first three shipments of collected materials were lost at sea en route to Scotland. In 1819, Goldie returned safely home with specimens intact. In 1822, he published Description of some new and rare plants discovered in Canada in 1819. Goldie travelled to St. Petersburgh in Russia in 1824, where he helped establish a new botanical garden. Goldie returned there in 1830. Goldie established his own nursery business during the same period with the object of providing additional income for his family. In 1844, he moved his family to Ayr, Ontario, where he rented land and later purchased a farm. The family also constructed and operated a number of mills.