Henry Chesterton

Joseph Henry Chesterton (1837 – 26 January 1883) was a British plant collector who was sent by James Veitch & Sons to search for orchids in South America with much success.

[4] Veitch replied immediately and arranged for Chesterton to meet one of his shipping agents in South America who would demonstrate the proper methods of packing the plants in order that they could be safely conveyed thousands of miles by sea, through various climates and greatly varying temperatures.

[5] Harry Veitch and John Heal, the head nurseryman, rushed to meet him and were presented with a collection of Orchids,[4] "so carefully packed and well looked after, that they arrived in the best possible condition".

[5] Veitch immediately bought all of Chesterton's plants and offered him employment as a traveller in order to obtain more new finds as orchid mania was reaching its height.

[4] According to the account in Hortus Veitchii: "Provided with but the scantiest information as to the native habitat, long kept secret and shrouded in mystery, Chesterton started, and not only succeeded in discovering the plant, but safely introduced it to Chelsea, where it flowered for the first time in 1873.