Andrew Downs

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. Growing up, Andrew often skipped school as a child to roam the woods, indulging in exploration and birdwatching.

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.

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. Downs advocated for Halifax to establish a park, museum, and library focused on natural history in November 1838.

When the Prince of Wales visited his gardens in August 1860, he admired the California quails, leading Downs to send six to Windsor, England. 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 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 site, which included a greenhouse, aviary, and aquarium, developed extensively due to Downs' rising stature and consistent government support. 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. 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."

Travelling to Dublin, he participated in the International Exhibition of Arts and Manufactures in 1865, winning a bronze medal.

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. With his award-winning exhibits at events in London, Dublin, and Paris established him as a respected taxidermist both locally and internationally.

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.

Despite the move to New York by him and his family, a complication in the negotiation caused the proposal to fail, and American zoologist William A. Conklin was instead named director of the Central Park Menagerie.

His later work centered on taxidermy, poultry, and birds, while he also supported civic projects and continued exhibiting. Throughout the 1880s, he utilized an annual $100 grant for the association.

Frequently attending provincial exhibitions in Nova Scotia, he contributed as an exhibitor, served as a judge, and earned awards. On 21 September 1880, he took part in the Provincial Industrial, Agricultural, Art, and Floral Exhibition of Nova Scotia, winning awards for his Polish chickens and bird collection. Constructing a square enclosure measuring nine feet on each side, he displayed a wide variety of rare and valuable foreign birds he had acquired at significant cost, including a pair of Australian Leadbeater's cockatoos.

His experience led him to the Dominion Exhibition in Halifax in 1881, where he acted as a committee member and juror. Downs' two cases contained ducks and shore birds.

He exhibited a natural history collection at the Dominion and Centennial Exhibition in Saint John, New Brunswick in October 1883. He secured first prize for his bird collection. His exhibit featured three cases: one with swimming birds like a flying mallard and a rare king eider, another with shorebirds including a scarlet ibis, a godwit, an avocet, and a black-legged stilt, and a third displaying singing birds and grouse, such as a Canada grouse with young and a hummingbird's nest, all recognized for their lifelike appearance.

When the Maritime Poultry Association was formed in Moncton in November 1884, he was appointed vice president under the presidency of H.T. Stevens. At the first annual show of the Maritime Poultry Association held in February 1885, he won first prize in the Ducks and Turkeys category for his East Indian ducks.

Birds of Nova Scotia Downs' dedication to collecting and studying avian species was highlighted when he mounted a Meadowlark that had been taken at Halifax Harbour on 16 February 1886. On 10 May 1886, he presented a paper to the Nova Scotian Institute of Natural Science detailing the rare Labrador duck, a species that had recently been declared extinct. He addressed the Royal Society of Canada with a paper on Nova Scotia's birds and mammals in 1888.

Downs, aged 79, built a museum annex to his residence in 1890 to preserve and display his collection, which included around 14 cases of mounted native birds.

Downs assembled a natural history exhibit for the provincial exposition in 1891, which turned out to be his final show. Soon after, he became ill and could no longer sustain prolonged activity.

Family Mary Elizabeth Matthews, Downs' first wife, died at age 30 in 1858, leaving behind four daughters. His second daughter, Annie Downs, later became the wife of R.T. Murray, deputy Queen's Printer for Nova Scotia.

Shortly after his first marriage, he married Matilda E. Muhlig on 22 June 1859, with whom he had one daughter.

Death Andrew Downs died at 81 years old in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 26 August 1892.

Downs' estate, valued at approximately $20,000, was distributed between six individuals. In February 1893, his property at Agricola and May streets—spanning 100 by 42 feet and comprising a shop, a dwelling house, and a lot of land—was advertised for sale in the Halifax Herald.

Legacy The Challenger expedition's Sir William Thompson stated he had never seen Downs' work surpassed.

Downs and his Zoological Gardens are honored with a cut stone monument located on Joseph Howe Drive (formerly Dutch Village Road) in Halifax. The site marks the entrance to his old gardens, which has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada since 17 May 1948. A Catalogue of the Birds of Nova Scotia (1888)