Andrew Downs (27 September 181126 August 1892) was an American-born Canadian naturalist, ornithologist, zoologist, and taxidermist. He was the founder of Downs' Zoological Gardens and contributed to natural history collections in Nova Scotia and abroad.
Early life Andrew Downs was born on 27 September 1811, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States.
He was born to Robert Downs and Elizabeth Plum. After arriving in Quebec from Scotland, his father later relocated to the United States. Andrew had two siblings: a sister named Frances and a brother named Tom Downs. Growing up, Andrew often skipped school as a child to roam the woods, indulging in exploration and birdwatching.
In 1825, at age 14, he moved with his family from the U.S. to the Colony of Nova Scotia, settling in Halifax. His father, a tinsmith, occasionally took him to work, and Andrew later took up the trade to earn a living.
Career Despite beginning his career as a plumber, inheriting his father's profession, his fascination with natural history became his true calling. He dedicated himself to wildlife research, studying the natural history of birds inhabiting Nova Scotia. He developed expertise in propagation, specimen preparation, and taxidermy. His methods for preparing, preserving, and mounting birds were highly scientific.
In 1833, Downs met with John James Audubon, the famed French-American ornithologist, who had published the first volume of "The Birds of America". The two developed a lasting correspondence that continued for years.
While his early focus included ornithology, he became one of the most knowledgeable curators and breeders of large American fauna in his time. He also took an interest in breeding rare dogs such as Scottish Deerhounds, Pomeranians, Skye Terriers, and Black Russian Terriers mixed with poodles.
Halifax Mechanics' Institute The self-taught naturalist was appointed to the governing committee of the Halifax Mechanics' Institute in 1835. Downs advocated for Halifax to establish a park, museum, and library focused on natural history in November 1838. He became assistant curator of the Institute's natural history collection in May 1845 and was promoted to curator the following year, overseeing a diverse selection of birds, insects, and minerals.
Downs' Zoological Gardens In 1847, Downs established Downs' Zoological Gardens, known as the "first zoo in America north of Mexico," on five acres of land at the head of the Northwest Arm outside Halifax. It was considered the first of its kind in the Americas since the Aztec civilization under Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II in Mexico. Downs' zoological grounds received many distinguished guests, including the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII), Admiral Henry Seymour, Sir Richard Grant the explorer, Lord Lucius Cary, 10th Viscount Falkland and Lady Amelia Cary, Viscountess Falkland, Prince Jérôme Bonaparte, and King Victor Emanuel's daughter, Princess Maria Clotilde.
Great Exhibition of 1851 At the 1851 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace in London, England, his exhibit of stuffed Nova Scotian birds won a bronze medal.
His reputation soon expanded to reflect his expertise in advancing poultry breeding and promoting acclimatization in Nova Scotia. Recognizing the demand for better domestic poultry in foreign markets, he requested a legislative grant to improve his poultry stock in 1853. The committee for game preservation reviewed Downs' petition, toured his property, admired his birds, and valued his breeding efforts. Acknowledging its advantages, they secured $100 to aid Downs in developing Nova Scotia's poultry breeds. Downs proposed annual flower and poultry shows to the Nova Scotia Assembly that year to boost livestock quality. He joined the executive committee for the first exhibition in Halifax in October 1853. He won 11 prizes for geese, ducks, and a variety of poultry imported from England. He rejoined the executive committee in 1854 and won nine prizes as an exhibitor. He also earned awards for the best stuffed bird collection, best taxidermy specimens, and second-best insect collection.
From England, Downs received an extensive selection of living birds in 1856, including pheasants, ducks, and fowls. With additional funding that year, he adapted the English pheasants for local conditions and introduced Chinese sheep to the province. Campbell Hardy of the Royal Artillery credited Downs with introducing both the English pheasant and the Canadian red deer to Nova Scotia.
Seeking to introduce an aquarium to his gardens, he appealed to the Nova Scotia Legislature in 1860. The idea was endorsed with a recommendation that he receive a $200 grant to support the project. Downs appeared in John Matthew Jones's 1860 article, Notes on Certain Species of Nova Scotian Fishes. It was printed in The Canadian Naturalist and Geologist by the Natural History Society of Montreal. The mention highlighted Downs' discovery of a spotted wrymouth near Halifax's Commercial Wharf on 14 June 1860.
When the Prince of Wales visited his gardens in August 1860, he admired the California quails, leading Downs to send six to Windsor, England.
1862 International Exhibition After receiving a rat that was "taught to draw a small cart" and a saw-whet owl from George Piers, Downs stuffed the two specimens and dispatched them to the 1862 International Exhibition in London. That year, he also exhibited a stuffed bull moose, a case of the province's game birds, and a case of Nova Scotia's wild ducks. He secured a bronze medal for his contributions at the exhibition, which was held from May to November.
Professional and Scientific Network Andrew Downs was a fellow or corresponding member of many natural history societies in Europe and America. Named a corresponding member of the London Zoological Society in 1862, he donated to the society's menagerie and often exchanged with influential people in the community. He had collaborative or collecting relationships with several notable naturalists and scientists of his time including Charles Waterton, John James Audubon, George Augustus Boardman, Spencer F. Baird, H.G. Torre, Thomas Blakiston, Col. William Chearnley, and Arthur Crichton. He was admitted to the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science on 5 February 1863 as an ordinary member. He actively participated in meetings for many years, sharing his research on ornithology through four published papers.
By 1863, he had doubled the size of his wildlife reserve to 100 acres. The grounds encompassed woodland, rock, and streams. The site, which included a greenhouse, aviary, and aquarium, developed extensively due to Downs' rising stature and consistent government support. In 1863, Central Park officially opened a zoological collection to the public. The opportunity to become superintendent of the Central Park Zoo came to Andrew Downs in 1864. He initially refused the offer, unwilling to abandon his own significant work.
Financially Downs depended on his skills as a taxidermist rather than on his interests as a naturalist, orinthologist, or breeder. In addition to his exhibits of birds, he stuffed and mounted moose heads. Specimens from his taxidermy work were acquired by museums and private collectors. He shipped upwards of 100 moose heads and many full specimens across the Atlantic Ocean. King Victor Emanuel II, known for his zoological enthusiasm, had Downs supply 25 moose and caribou for his acclimatization garden in Pisa, Italy.
Across America and Europe, Downs actively participated in the exchange of specimens and knowledge with major zoological institutions and museums. The naturalist also received significant support from officers of Her Majesty's Army and Royal Navy, who sent him animal specimens from wherever they were stationed around the world. Among donations arranged by British Army personnel, his personal collecting was supplemented by imports from the Zoological Society of London, and Downs' own work during three European trips in 1862, 1864, and 1867. During his 1864 tour of Europe, he was honored by nobility and scientific community, with Queen Victoria granting him passage on the HMS Mersey. Downs brought various live specimens, two glass cases of stuffed birds, and a stuffed moose to the London Zoo, exchanging for 70 specimens. During the trip he visited English naturalist and explorer Charles Waterton at Wateron's residence Walton Hall. After his return to Halifax, Downs designated his residence as Walton Cottage.
Downs, C. Hardy, and Capt. Chearnley outlined regulations in 1864 for the Nova Scotia Inland Fisheries and Game Protection Society. Chearnley had originally founded the organization, now known as the Halifax Wildlife Association. While in Halifax with the British Army, Hardy penned An Afternoon with Downs in 1864, a newspaper article describing his home and gardens. Hardy noted about Downs, "Every visitor desirous of acquaintance with wild life in the woods or by the waters of Acadie, went to Downs for advice or reference."
Downs presented his first published paper titled On the Land Birds of Nova Scotia to the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science on 9 January 1865. The paper included 61 different species of land birds.
Travelling to Dublin, he participated in the International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures in 1865, winning a bronze medal.
On 26 June 1866, members of the Nova Scotia Institute of Natural Science toured his gardens, noting attractions such as a young polar bear, a seal, and deer and antelopes from South America.
1867 Paris Exposition At the request of Thomas Frederick Knight in 1867, he collected and shared his most recent findings on pisciculture. This was in preparation for the Paris Exhibition, scheduled for April. Downs gained insights through discussions with experts like Frank Buckland, the Inspector of British Fisheries. He returned with a chart of detailed descriptions explaining the fish propagation process.
At the 1867 Universal Exhibition held in Paris, France, the Canadian exhibitor was awarded a silver medal for his contribution of 68 stuffed Nova Scotia birds. In Illustrated London News on 24 August 1867, Charles Wyville Thomson critiqued the natural history section of the exhibition and made particular note of Downs' bird collection. Downs' collection of birds was among the exhibits purchased by the Nova Scotia commission of the Paris Exhibition. With his award-winning exhibits at events in London, Dublin, and Paris established him as a respected taxidermist both locally and internationally.
He was appointed to the organizing committee of the Provincial Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition of Nova Scotia held in Halifax in October 1868. Downs participated as a juror for the poultry class and exhibited in the natural history category. He received first prize for the "largest and best collection of stuffed birds and quadrupeds of Nova Scotia, with popular and scientific names".
Central Park Menagerie In October 1867, Central Park Commissioners Andrew Haswell Green and Salem Howe Wales sent their wishes to have Downs made superintendent of the Central Park Menagerie. He was endorsed for the position by Spencer Baird, curator of the Smithsonian Institution. The reported salary was $3,000 per year. Downs changed his mind and, with some regret, decided to close Downs' Zoological Gardens in Halifax and sell his belongings to make the move to the United States. His land and buildings were sold for $8,000 to $10,000, and his natural history collection was auctioned off by Halifax auctioneer J.D. Nash on 28 May 1868. He donated a portion of his stuffed bird collection to the newly founded Nova Scotia Provincial Museum and relocated to New York in preparation of taking up the position of superintendent. At a meeting of the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science on 11 May 1868, they expressed regret and extended support in wake of the forthcoming departure of Downs.