Grindon, Leo H. (Leo Hartley), 1818-1904

Leopold Hartley Grindon (1818-1904), botanist, was born in Bristol, the son of a solicitor and city coroner. At an early age, he was drawn to the study of Botany, and when 13 he began a collection of dried plants. He later helped to found the Philo-botanical Society of Bristol.

At the age of 18 he began the task of forming a herbarium comprising all plants found growing in Britain whether wild or cultivated. He also lectured and taught botany in his spare time. Grindon moved to Manchester in 1838 at the age of 20 and became cashier in the firm of John Whittaker & Co., a post which he held until 1864.

In Manchester, Grindon joined the Manchester Mechanics' Institute where he organised nature excursions. In 1860 Grindon helped to found the Manchester Field Naturalists' Society. Grindon was Secretary and general manager of the association up to 1872, when he became 'botanical referee'. From 1852 until its absorbtion by Owens College, he was lecturer in Botany at the Royal School of Medicine. By the end of the 1870s he had collected a herbarium of reputedly 25,000 specimens.

Grindon was also active in other efforts at popular education. He was a supporter of Phonetic spelling movement, and was for many years superintendant of the Mather Street Phonetic Sunday and Evening Schools. He was also a pioneer in the encouragement of cottage window gardening in Manchester.

His major publications included 'Figurative language', 1851, 'The sexuality of nature', 1853, 'The Manchester flora', 1859, 'British and garden botany', 1864, 'Life: its nature, varieties, and phenomena', 1866, 'The trees of Old England', 1868, 'Emblems: a bird's-eye view of the harmonies of nature with mankind', 1869, 'Country rambles and Manchester walks and wild flowers', 1882, 'The Shakspere flora', 1883, 'Scripture botany', 1883, 'Fruits & fruit-trees', 1885. For a touch of light relief he also compiled 'Manchester Banks and Bankers', 1877.

He died in Manchester in 1904.

From the guide to the Leopold Hartley Grindon: Plant specimen album, 1866, (University of Exeter)