Botanist and explorer born at Scone in 1798. His journeys to North America resulted in the discovery of countless species of flora and fauna previously unknown to the science of botany. Many of these trees and plants were subsequently introduced to Britain, most notably the Douglas Fir (Oregon Pine – Pseudotsuga Menziesii) which bears his name – as does the Douglas Squirrel. The other main trees introduced were the Giant Fir (Abies Grandis) and the Sitka Spruce (Picea Sithchensis). Further information is found in his book, Journal of 1915. He died in 1834 after being gored to death by a wild bull in the Sandwich Islands (the present day Hawaiian Islands). 2nd Statistical Account: “Intelligence was received of his death in very shocking circumstances. He had fallen into a pit made by the natives of the Sandwich Islands for the purpose of catching wild bulls and a bull being in the pit at the time, this celebrated botanist was killed in the most horrible manner.”
