Joseph Paxton Magazine of Botany and Register of Flowering Plants
At the age of only 23 Paxton became Head Gardener at Chatsworth, Home of William Cavendish, Sixth Duke of Devonshire. It is said he got the job because the Duke of Devonshire was slightly deaf but Paxton had a loud booming voice. For his first day at work he walked to Chatsworth and climbed over the walls early in the morning. By the time the Gardners arrived Paxton was able to detail what he wanted them to do. He set about re-designing the gardens and became skilled at moving mature trees, the largest weighing eight tons. In 1826 he obtained a cutting of a large water lily that produced leaves 12 foot wide and strong enough to support his daughter on one leaf.