Death of William McNab, Curator of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Death of William McNab, renowned curator of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, occurs in 1848. A visionary horticulturalist and botanist, McNab played a pivotal role in the greening of Scotland during the 19th century.

Appointed curator in 1810, McNab oversaw the monumental task of relocating over 4,000 plant species—including rare trees, shrubs, and flowering plants—from the garden’s original site on Leith Walk to its current location at Inverleith. This ambitious move transformed the Royal Botanic Garden into one of Europe’s leading centers of botanical study and public display.

Through his work, McNab helped introduce and acclimatize exotic species, laying the foundation for Scotland’s rich horticultural heritage and advancing the science of botany in the British Isles.