280 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN. 
THOMAS MEEHAIS. 
Death of One of the Foremost Horticulturists and Botanists of 
the Country—Contributed Many Articles to Scientific Publi . 
cations—First to Flower Victoria Regia in This Country— 
English Comment on His Life Work. 
A despatch to the New York Times from Philadelphia under 
date of November 19 th, says: 
Thomas Meehan, one of the foremost horticulturists and botanists in 
this country, died at his home in Germantown to-night after a linger¬ 
ing illness, aged seventy-five years. 
He contributed thousands of scientific publications on the subjects of 
his life’s work and was the first botanist to succeed in flowering the 
Victoria Regia in this country. 
He was born in England, and was at one time head gardener to Col. 
Vernon Harcourt, at St. Claire, Isle of Wight, where Queen Victoria 
spent her honeymoon. He came to this country in 1848. He was a 
member of the Councils from 1882 until the time of his death. 
Last April the National Nurseryman published a two 
column sketch of Mr. Meehan and his picture. In June the 
Gardeners’ Chronicle, of London, England, published a long 
sketch of Mr. Meehan from which the following is taken: 
Edward (Edmond) Meehan, the father of Thomas Meehan, was of an 
old family of landed proprietors and merchants of Carrick-on-Suir, Ire¬ 
land. His father dying when the boy was young, he was cared for by 
a maternal uncle, and finally apprenticed to a gardener in the estab¬ 
lishment of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at Dublin. When out of the 
term he went to the famous nursery of Watson at St. Albans, and 
when still young was engaged as gardener to Admiral Byng, M. P. 
While there he married Sarah Denham, of an old family of Potter’s 
Bar, and with a considerable united capital engaged in a fruit, vegeta¬ 
ble and provision business at Regent’s Park. The “good will” that 
they had been induced to buy proved a myth. He returned to his 
original profession, to Bunney’s Nursery at Ball’s Pond, Islington, 
and soon after went with his family of wife and two children as gar¬ 
dener to John Young, Esq., on his large estate at Westbridge, in the 
Isle of Wight. Here he erected the first house for the growth of pine¬ 
apples in the Isle of Wight. 
At the age of 17 Thomas Meehan became a gardener and at 
19 entered the great gardens at Kew, England. While at Kew 
he became intimate with John Murray who afterwards came to 
America and became a popular Unitarian minister. Mr. Mur¬ 
ray had found a starting point with Robert Buist, the famous 
Philadelphia nurseryman of that time. A letter to Mr. Buist 
brought the promise of aid to Mr. Meehan also in the future. 
After serving two full years at Kew, he found employment in 
the nursery of Bridgewater Page, of Southampton. After a short time 
here, through the favor of Lady Catherine Vernon Harcourt, he was 
engaged as gardener to the Earl of Hardwicke at Sidney Lodge. 
Here again he found good friends, and the earl and countess, before 
starting on a long voyage in the Vanguard, the earl being first lord of 
the admirality, arranged that on his return (Donn) the aged gardener at 
Wimpole Hall at Cambridge should be pensioned and that he should 
have the place. Following this Mr. Buist wrote that he might now 
come to him. The struggle between the chance of succeeding to the 
author of the Hortus Cantabrigensis and going across the water was 
severe; but America won, and Meehan reached Philadelphia the day 
following his twenty-second birthday. 
Mr. Buist was arranging the removal of his nurseries and greenhouse 
to a large tract outside the city limits, but was not prepared to give 
up the oversight of his city business. To Mr. Meehan was assigned 
long absence. He had secured the property in accordance with a desire 
when a poor apprentice, to secure and preserve the gardens for ever, as 
the only spot in which he had any pleasure when an orphan boy by a 
Sunday afternoon under the shading trees. Mr. Buist and Mr Meehan 
both did their best, but just the person desired could not be found in 
the few days at command. In desperation to keep his word with Mr. 
Eastwick it was proposed and agreed on that Mr. Meehan himself 
should go there. 
On the return of Mr. Eastwick, two years later, Mr. Caleb Cope had 
received from Kew seed of the Victoria Regia, and had built a large 
house on the plans of the Victoria house at Kew and Chatsworth, and 
Mr. Meehan was induced to go thereand take charge of it. The flower¬ 
ing of the Victoria was a great event in those days in America. 
In 1858 he started with $1,000 capital and the rental of three acres of 
ground the Germantown Nurseries. It was a first attempt to make a 
specialty of the many beautiful trees and shrubs of America, only 
European nursery trees being grown from direct importations. The 
business has grown to immense proportions. Mr. Meehan is prouder 
of his business success than of his reputation in science, literature, or 
even as a public man in municipal affairs—especially as there is a gen¬ 
eral impression that to succeed in these lines one must neglect and be 
unfitted for business pursuits. He divided his business some years ago 
with his three younger sons, but still continues active work as a part¬ 
ner, with one-fourth interest in the large concern. 
In the course of a sketch of Mr. Meehan the Philadelphia 
“ Press ” says: 
While still a young man, and after correspondence with Robert 
Buist, he came to Philadelphia and organized the latter’s West Phila¬ 
delphia nurseries. After being with Mr. Buist for a little more than 
a year he was employed by Mr. Eastwick, the owner of Bartram’s 
Gardens, as superintendent. He remained in Mr. Eastwick’s employ 
until 1852. when he became head gardener to Caleb Cope, a wealthy 
dry goods merchant at Holmesburg. where the Forrest Home now is. 
Mr. Cope had just received some seed of the Victoria Regia from Eng¬ 
land. They were placed in the care of Mr. Meehan, who the following 
year succeeded in producing flowers for the first time in this country. 
It created a sensation and Mr. Cope was besieged by visitors anxious 
to see them. 
In 1853 Mr. Meehan purchased a property in Upper Dublin, Mont¬ 
gomery county, now known as Ambler Station, and started into the 
nursery business for himself. After a few months he took into part¬ 
nership William Saunders, who founded the “ Grangers.” Later they 
founded a nursery in Germantown opposite Pelham. Eventually Mr. 
Meehan assumed the whole business. The business prospered and 
later the nurseries were concentrated at their present location, Chew 
and Church streets, Germantown. 
In 1859 D. Rodney King established the “ Gardeners’Monthly Maga¬ 
zine ” and engaged Mr. Meehan as its editor. He continued in that 
position for thirty years, when the magazine was consolidated with a 
New York horticultural publication. For sixteen years be was agri¬ 
cultural editor of Fornev’s “ Weekly Press ” and was a contributor to 
a large number of weekly and monthly papers and magazines. A few 
years ago, in conjunction with his younger sons, he established 
“ Meehan’s Monthly.” 
After coming to this country his activity and interest in scientific 
work continued. In 1860 he became a member of the Academy of 
Natural Sciences, attaching himself to the botanical section. His fame 
as botanist spread rapidly and widely until he was recognized as one 
of the most eminent vegetable biologists. For several years he had 
charge of the botanical section of the academy and was chairman of the 
Publication Committee. This is one of the most important bodies of 
the organization, as all scientific papers are criticized by it before going 
into the proceedings A few years ago a plant was named Meehanis in 
his honor. 
the duty of taking charge of the new establishment, under an agree-j)^j Twenty-three years ago he was elected senior vice-president of the 
Academy of Natural Sciences and has been re elected annually since. 
ment to retain the position for three years. 
When a little over a year had passed, Andrew M. Eastwick, railroad „„ 0 
builder for the Russian government had become the owner of Bar j||’dec]ined in favor of General Isaac Wister. 
tiam s Gardens. He had but one week before returning to Russia, and j 
engaged Mr. Buist to find some one who was at once botanist, land 
scape gardener and farmer, to take full charge d uring his proposed^ 
| He was offered the presidency on the death of Dr. Joseph Leidy, but 
He became a member of 
the American Association for the Advancement of Science, soon after 
that society was organized, and at the time of his death was one of its 
oldest members. He was also a member of several similar organiza- 
