Henry Eckford (17 May 1823 – 5 December 1905) was a Scots horticulturist and reputedly the most famous breeder of sweet peas,[1] transforming the plant from a minor horticultural subject into the queen of annuals.[citation needed] U.S. horticulturist Liberty Hyde Bailey called him "the prince of specialists".[2] In 1888 he moved to the town of Wem in Shropshire, England. It was in Wem that he perfected the breeding of his Grandiflora sweet peas, which in size of bloom and general performance were a great improvement over previous varieties.