Born in Liverpool in 1855, William Lewis Townson was the son of Mary and Benjamin Townson, a surgeon and physician. He was educated with a medical qualification in view, but chose instead to become a pharmaceutical chemist. He came to New Zealand as a young man, and in 1888 set up in business as a chemist and druggist in Westport. The following year, when he was 34, he married Lucinda Dagg at Masterton.
During his Westport years he collected plant specimens, at first for Thomas Kirk and later for Cheeseman, from the extensive southwest Nelson district, much of it not previously botanised. Many of his finds were described in Cheeseman 's Manual of the New Zealand Flora, and several, including the new orchid genus Townsonia, were named in his honour. Around 1906 Townson moved to the North Island, carrying on his pharmacy work in several centres before buying the Thames business of the late J W Hall (Podocarpus hallii) in 1918. He continued to send Cheeseman specimens and observations from widely spread districts; however, the North Island had already been well combed by other collectors. Townson 's most important work was in the South Island, and his one published paper was on the vegetation of the Westport District and a list of plants.
Townson wrote about his Westport travels, "I have never regretted consenting to prepare this list, although I had no conception that it would prove to be such a big undertaking, for thousands of miles had to be walked, over hill country and plain, in fair weather and foul, and numerous difficulties had to be surmounted. But in looking back upon these years of wandering, when all my senses were on the alert, and my thews and sinews were strong to stand the strain of the longest day 's tramp, when the book of nature was no more a sealed book for me, and the trees, plants and birds became my familiar friends, they were, undoubtedly, the happiest years of my life."
Townson was of a modest and gentle nature, but full of energy and enthusiasm. A man of many interests, he was a student of Maori customs and traditions, and a lover of music, good literature and gardening. He related well to others, and shared his time and knowledge generously. When William Lewis Townson died at Thames in 1926, at the age of 71, tributes at his funeral included, appropriately, floral contributions from pupils of the local High School, to whose Rambling club he had been guide, counsellor and friend. |
