{{Short description|British horticulturist and plant hybridiser}} thumb|John Dominy '''John Dominy''' (1816 – 12 February 1891) was a British horticulturist and plant hybridiser.<ref name="Hortus Veitchii">{{cite book |last=Veitch|first=James|title=Hortus Veitchii|year=1906|publisher=James Veitch & Sons |location=London |pages=99–101 |url=http://pds.lib.harvard.edu/pds/view/13126117?n=152|authorlink=James Herbert Veitch|chapter=Lives of hybridists: John Dominy}}</ref> He is best known as a gardener at the Veitch Nurseries, where he worked most of his life, first at James and James Veitch in Exeter (1834–1841) and later at the group's Chelsea-based business ({{circa}} 1846–1880).<ref name=DCP>[http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/person/namedef-1351 John Dominy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910150055/http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/person/namedef-1351 |date=2015-09-10 }}. Darwin Correspondence Project.</ref> In 1856 Dominy flowered the first known manmade orchid hybrid, ''Calanthe'' Dominyi (''Calanthe masuca'' × ''Calanthe triplicata'').<ref>[https://archive.today/20130802001537/http://www.caradocdoy.co.uk/veitch_nursery/who_were_the_james_veitch_nurseries_html Veitch Nurseries: Who were the James Veitch Nurseries?] Caradoc Doy.</ref><ref>[http://www.nwos.org/documents/Veitch.pdf Harry James Veitch: 1840 – 1924.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713113704/http://nwos.org/documents/Veitch.pdf |date=2015-07-13 }} Northwest Orchid Society.</ref><ref>[http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Plant-science/Plant-registration-forms/Orchidreferences Significant developments in the history of orchid hybrids and their registration.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808062413/http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Plant-science/Plant-registration-forms/Orchidreferences |date=2013-08-08 }} Royal Horticultural Society.</ref> He is also noted for hybridising ''Nepenthes'' and fuchsias.<ref name=DCP /> During his time at the Veitch Nurseries, Dominy mentored John Seden, who would go on to become a distinguished hybridist in his own right.<ref>[http://www.exeter.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=426&p=0 The Three Johns.] Exeter City Council.</ref>
==Life== Dominy was born in Gittisham, near Honiton in South Devon in 1816. He served his apprenticeship as a gardener for a private household before, in 1834, he joined the nursery of Lucombe, Pince & Co. in Exeter. He stayed there a few months before joining the nearby Veitch Nurseries. He remained with Veitch initially until 1841 before being appointed head gardener to J. P. Magor of Redruth in Cornwall.<ref name="Hortus Veitchii"/>
After spending nearly five years at Redruth, Dominy returned to the Veitch Nurseries, working both at Exeter and the firm's new branch in Chelsea, before poor health forced his retirement in 1880.<ref name="Hortus Veitchii"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dominy, John}} Category:1816 births Category:1891 deaths Category:British horticulturists Category:Veitch Nurseries Category:People from East Devon