Thomas Davey

Thomas Davey ( 1758 – 25 April 1833) was a British florist and nurseryman based in Camberwell, Surrey, and later in Chelsea, Middlesex, both now in London, England. The son of a nurseryman of the same name, he was known for his "florists' flowers", the type of flowers traditionally popular with English florists, and specialised in tulips, geraniums, and pinks. He capitalised on a new enthusiasm for tulips and flower-growing at the start of the 19th century in what has been described as a "cult of florists' flowers", giving exhibitions that attracted large crowds and publishing sales catalogues, one of which offered nearly 800 different types of tulip bulbs. The botanist Robert Sweet named the pelargonium "Daveyanum" (Davey's stork's-bill) after him and the tulip "Daveyana" was given his name by its breeder M. Dupree of Gothenburg. He grew many plants to which he attached his name, such as the tulips "La Joie de Davey" and "Davey's Trafalgar" and was one of the first to seriously take up the propagation and improvement of pinks. He was a bell-ringer and parish official and was buried at St Luke's Church in Sydney Street, Chelsea. The antiquarian Samuel Shepherd composed a poem in his memory. Wellington Square was built on the site of his house and nursery. Early life and family Thomas Davey was born around 1758, the son of a well-known nurseryman of the same name. His first wife was Mary.