Joseph Knight (September 1778 - July 20, 1855 Avon Dassett), was a gardener to the Duke of Bedford, then to George Hibbert of Clapham, later (1808) established the Exotic Nursery on King's Road, Chelsea. in 1829, he received Hibbert's collection of living plants. The nursery was taken over 1853 by his nephew, Thomas A. Perry. In 1856, it became John Gould Veitch's (1839-1870) "Royal Exotic Nursery", continuing on the same site until about 1914.
[From The Gardener's Magazine, 1828, p. 354-355:] Knight's Exotic Nursery, King's Road. ..The effect on entering is excellent; the termination of the telescopic vista being the bronze vase with its jet d'eau, backed by two splendid plants of striped camellia covered with bloom...
[From The Florist, Fruitist, and Garden Miscellany, 1855, pp 284-285:] JOSEPH KNIGHT, ESQ., LATE OF THE EXOTIC NURSERY, CHELSEA.—It is with much regret we have this month to record the decease of this venerable gentleman, which took place on July 20th, at Bitham House, Avon Dassett, Oxfordshire, the residence of his nephew, T. A. Perry, Esq., where he had principally resided since he relinquished the Exotic Nursery. Mr. Knight’s name is no doubt familiar to all our readers as one of the most respected, as he was also one of the most successful, horticulturists of the present century. Mr. Knight was the founder of the Exotic Nursery, and his uprightness and urbanity during the 50 years that he carried on that extensive establishment, had secured for him the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. There was, in fact, a peculiar suavity of manner and kindness of heart about Mr. Knight which, independent of his high professional character, endeared him to a widely extended circle, and we cannot name a single private individual who enjoyed so large a share of the confidence and respect of the aristocracy as did Mr. Knight. Numbers of the nobility were among his personal friends, and their late Majesties King William and Queen Adelaide were much attached to him, and paid him frequent visits. Besides the above, the Exotic Nursery was a great school for young men from the country to finish off their professional education and prepare for higher duties. Mr. Knight’s connection with the higher classes made him looked up to on both sides, and we believe we are quite correct when we say no one was ever the means of placing so many gardeners in situations as Mr. Knight, and a mutual confidence and respect for each other were thus founded between Mr. Knight and a large body of practical men—spread over nearly every part of the globe, which has ceased only with his death. Mr. Knight was an ardent lover of plants, to which circumstance, and to his enterprising spirit, we owe many of the most beautiful of our garden favourites. Among others, which he was mainly instrumental in introducing, we may note the tree Rhododendrons from Nepal, a vast number of New Holland and Chinese plants, including the lovely Chinese Azaleas, Lateritia, variegata, &c., and many others too numerous to particularise. Mr. K. was as well especially fond of coniferous plants. Since he relinquished business, two years ago, he devoted much of his leisure time to improving the estates in the county in which he had retired, and in planting exotic trees of recent introduction. Mr. Knight was born in September, 1778, and began his professional life as gardener to the then Duke of Bedford. He was afterwards gardener to George Hibbert, Esq., of Clapham, to whose considerate encouragement he attributed in a great measure the success which attended his commencement in business as a nurseryman. Mr. Knight connected himself in marriage with the ancient family of Lorymer. Mrs. Knight died a few years ago without leaving a family. Upright, persevering, of simple habits and unassuming manners, Mr. Knight affords a pattern worthy of our imitation. His application to business was rewarded by a large fortune, a considerable portion of which was spent in deeds of charity and benevolence. A Catholic by creed these acts show the earnestness of the principles he professed, while his kindness of heart was shared in by all. J. S.
[From History of European Botanical Discoveries in China, 1898, by Emil Bretschneider, p. 220:] Knight, Joseph, born about 1781, died at Banbury, 27 July 1855. He was gardener to Hibbert..., afterwards nurseryman at Chelsea...He founded, previous to 1811, at Little Chelsea, King's Road, the Exotic Nursery, which in 1853 was bought by Mr. James Veitch.
