Joseph Breck

Joseph Breck (1794–1873), a notable businessman and horticulturist of the 19th century, was born in Medfield, Massachusetts.[1] He moved to Pepperell, Massachusetts, in 1817, working in the chaise carriage manufacturing business while also exploring his passion for horticulture in his gardens.[2] His interest in flowers and plants developed into a career as an editor, from 1822 to 1846, of the New England Farmer, one of the earliest agricultural magazines established in the U.S., and the first of its kind in New England.[3]

For the curator, see Joseph Breck (curator). For the U.S. Navy officer, see Joseph Berry Breck.
Joseph Breck
Born1794
Medfield, Massachusetts
DiedJune 14, 1873
Brighton, Massachusetts
OccupationHorticulturist and Businessman

Breck moved to Lancaster, Massachusetts, in 1832 to become superintendent of the Lancaster Horticultural Gardens.[4] In 1833, Breck wrote a book called The Young Florist, which is a dialogue between two young gardeners that presents information about flowers and natural history as it relates to flower cultivation.[5]

Breck moved to Brighton, Massachusetts, in 1836 and established a nursery while also expanding his business interests into a seed and agricultural implement store called Joseph Breck & Sons in Boston, Massachusetts (many publicity materials and catalogs would claim 1822 as the founding date of Joseph Breck & Sons, while later ones claimed 1818).[6] In 1840, Breck published his company’s first catalog, the New England Agricultural Warehouse and Seed Store Catalogue, to promote his company’s products.[7] The catalog included illustrations and horticultural literature to accompany product listings.

In 1851, Breck published The Flower Garden, a book about the cultivation of ornamental plants such as perennials, annuals, shrubs and evergreen trees.[8] One of the founding members of the American Seed Trade Association, Breck was the president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society from 1859 to 1862.[7] Breck moved to the Oak Square section of Brighton in 1854, where he built an extensive nursery. He lived there until his death in 1873.[1]

Legacy

His company still exists today as Breck's.

Breck Avenue in the Oak Square section of Brighton, Massachusetts, is named in his honor.

Joseph Breck was the great-grandfather of Joseph Breck (curator), the first director of The Cloisters who was instrumental in its garden designs.[9]

See also

References
  1. Oak Square, Brighton Allston Historical Society.
  2. History of Middlesex County MA 1890, J.W. Lewis and Co.
  3. New England Farmer and Horticultural Journal, 1822 - 1846 Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine, ProQuest.
  4. Joseph Breck, Digital Commonwealth.
  5. The Young Florist, Library of Congress Catalog Record.
  6. Nursery Sample Books, University of Delaware Library.
  7. Biographies of American Seedsmen & Nurserymen, Smithsonian Institution Libraries.
  8. The Flower-Garden; Or, Breck's Book Of Flowers by Joseph Breck, ChestOfBooks.com.
  9. Horticultural Roots of Joseph Breck, The Metropolitan Museum.
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