Downing, Andrew Jackson (1815–52)

An american landscape designer and author, Andrew Jackson Downing (1815–52) promoted the Gothic Revival style in gardens throughout the United States, writing a number of books and editing The Horticulturalist, a magazine published from 1846 until 1852.

Andrew Downing was born on October 30, 1815, at Newburgh, New York. His father was Samuel Downing, a nurseryman. He was named after Andrew Jackson, the American victor at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815, and later the 7th president of the United States. He left school at the age of 16 and started work in his father's nursery, becoming interested in landscape gardening and architecture. As a result, he started writing about garden landscapes and botany. His first book, A Treatise on the Theory and Practice ...