David Douglas

David Douglas (born June 25, 1799, Scone, Perthshire, Scotland—died July 12, 1834, Sandwich [Hawaiian] Islands [now a U.S. state]) was a Scottish botanist who was a traveler and botanical collector in North America and for whom the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii; synonym P. douglasii) and the primrose genus Douglasia are named. Born to John Douglas, a stonemason, and Jean Drummond, Douglas was eager to learn about natural history from his childhood. At age 11 he...