The History of World Expositions |
The London World Exposition 1851
Joseph Paxton was born into poverty on 3 August 1803 in Milton Bryan, Bedfordshire. He only attended a Grammar School briefly, and was employed as a helper in Battlesden Park. He quickly climbed the career ladder and was made head gardener of Chatsworth by the Duke of Devonshire at the age of only 23. A true Victorian self-made man, he not only taught himself gardening, he also founded several magazines such as ‘Paxton’s Magazine of Botany’, wrote a guidebook on the growing of dahlias and an encyclopaedia of botany. For the redesigning of Chatsworth Park, Paxton acquired rare seeds and plants from Asia and America. The transformation was crowned by a large lake with a 100 metre high fountain. Paxton became not only the Duke of Devonshire’s advisor, stockbroker and steward, but also his friend. In 1838, the two of them went on the traditional Grand Tour, the British upper class’s educational journey through Italy and Greece. Paxton soon also advanced to become director of the Midland Rail Company. |
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EXPOSEEUM - The Museum of World Exhibitions, Hanover, Expo Plaza 11 Open every Sunday from 11 to 16 |
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