William Carey, Indian Adventurer

Beginnings

William Carey was born in the little Northamptonshire village of Paulerspury in 1761 - right in the heart of England. William's father worked from home as a weaver. But when William was six, family fortunes improved. His father was offered the job of Parish Clerk and schoolmaster which meant moving to the schoolhouse - a larger house at the other end of the village. It also meant William was able to go to school where he learned to read and write and do arithmetic.

He loved being able to read. Books about flowers and animals were his favourites and books about real-life adventures and explorers. He also read books like 'Robinson Crusoe', 'Pilgrim's Progress', and 'Gulliver's Travels'.

His Uncle Peter had come back from Canada and William never tired of hearing stories about his life there and in other countries he'd visited. Because William was always talking about foreign places, friends gave him the nickname 'Columbus' after the 15th century explorer.

William was always interested in the flowers, animals, birds and insects he found in surrounding lanes, woods and fields. His bedroom was full of the specimens he collected and he studied books to find out their names. So began a life-long interest in the natural world. He would go on to make many a learned contribution to books on wildlife, botany, geology, agriculture and forestry - among other things. Another interest was gardening. William's Uncle Peter was a very good gardener and taught him all he knew as he grew up in Paulerspury. William had his own patch in his father's garden and throughout his life, wherever he went to live, he would always create a beautiful garden.