Editing David Douglas (botanist) (section)

==Early life==
Douglas was born in [[Scone, Perthshire|Scone]], [[Perthshire]], the second son of John Douglas, a stonemason, and Jean Drummond. At around the age of seven, he attended a school in a neighboring parish, where he became known for his tardiness and truancy, preferring to explore the countryside during his two-mile walk to class.<ref>Nisbet, Jack (2009). ''The Collector: David Douglas and the Natural History of the Northwest''. Seattle: Sasquatch Books. ISBN 9781570616679.</ref> He attended school in [[Kinnoull]], on the eastern banks of the [[River Tay]], and upon leaving found work as an apprentice to William Beattie, head gardener at nearby [[Scone Palace]], the seat of the [[David William Murray, 3rd Earl of Mansfield|Earl of Mansfield]]. He spent seven years in this position, completing his apprenticeship, and then spent a winter at a college in Perth to learn more of the scientific and mathematical aspects of plant culture. After a further spell of working at [[Valleyfield, Fife|Valleyfield House]] in [[Fife]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/walk-of-the-week-valleyfield-wood-fife-1-1424824|title=Walk of the week: Valleyfield Wood, Fife|website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref> (during which time he had access to a library of botanical and zoological books), he moved to the [[Glasgow Botanic Gardens|Botanical Gardens]] of [[Glasgow University]] and attended botany lectures. [[William Jackson Hooker]], who was Garden Director and Professor of Botany, was greatly impressed with him and took him on an expedition to the [[Scottish highlands|Highlands]] before recommending him to the [[Royal Horticultural Society]].{{sfn |Nisbet |2009 |pp=4–6}}