Douglas, David National Historic Person
Cathedral Grove, McMillan Provincial Park, British Columbia
Douglas, David
(© Parks Canada)
Address :
Cathedral Grove, McMillan Provincial Park, British Columbia
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1979-05-21
Life Date:
1799 to 1834
Other Name(s):
-
Douglas, David
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Pioneer botanist in western North America; identified the Douglas Fir
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Unknown, British Columbia
Scottish-born botanist David Douglas identified over 200 new plant species in North America, including the famous Douglas fir. Primarily a collector rather than a published scientist, he sent more plants to Europe than any other botanist of his time. Douglas made three expeditions to Canada, including journeys from the Columbia River to Hudson Bay (1827) and along the Okanagan and Fraser rivers (1833). His career ended tragically in 1834 when he was killed while exploring in Hawaii. About 50 plant species and one genus bear the name of this renowned collector.