Edward Leeds and his daffodils

Joy Uings examines the life of Edward Leeds, plantsman and daffodil hybridist.

Introduction

Edward Leeds, was born at Buile Hill, Pendleton on 9 September, 1802. He was the eldest of four children born to Thomas and Ann, daughter of Joseph Rigby of Swinton Park, Manchester.

Thomas Leeds, originally from Norwich, was a cotton manufacturer until his bankruptcy in February 1829. Brockbank records that his mill was destroyed by fire. He and Edward then set up together as Sharebrokers, a business Edward continued after his father's death in November 1839.Seedling narcissi: from Gardeners’ Magazine of Botany, 1851, p.169 The first three of Leeds’ seedling narcissi to be featured. Narcissi Leedsii is on the left.

Edward married Ann Segar, of Liverpool, and the first of their four sons, also named Edward, was born in 1837, followed by Thomas in 1839. Each of these sons, and possibly also the youngest, Henry (born 1846), was to go on to qualify as a Doctor. Edward and Ann's third-born son, Francis Henry, died at just four months old on 28 September 1845.

Edward Leeds died at his home in Longford Bridge, Stretford, on 4 April, 1877 and was buried, five days later, with his infant son in Bowdon. Leeds' wife survived him by less than five years.