Years: 

unknown

Year Hutchinson Medal awarded:

1993

Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Ontario (1981–1993)

Paterson is a Scottish-born horticulturist, garden administrator, educator, writer, and internationally respected advocate for botanical gardens. His career spans from hands-on horticultural training in mid-century Britain to leadership roles at major botanical institutions in Europe and North America.

Key contributions

• Under his leadership, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Ontario, expanded its interpretive focus, conservation programming, and horticultural resources
• He is credited with conceiving major garden initiatives, including the development of a medicinal garden, as documented in Canadian press
• He is a widely published author whose works are admired for combining horticultural authority with historical and aesthetic insight
• Paterson also served as Curator of the Chelsea Physic Garden, London’s historic medicinal garden established in the 17th century