Peter Wyse Jackson

Peter Sherlock Wyse Jackson (born 7 June 1955) is an Irish botanist and environmentalist. He is president of the Missouri Botanical Garden, and holder of the George Engelmann chair in botany at Washington University in St. Louis.

Early life
Wyse Jackson was born in Kilkenny, Ireland on 7 June 1955 to Robert Wyse Jackson and Lois Margery (née Phair). His father was Bishop of Limerick, Ardfert and Aghadoe and Dean of Cashel.

He grew up with an interest in birds and plants which he indulged on summer holidays to County Kerry. While getting his secondary education at St Columba's College, Dublin he was introduced to systematic botany.

Education
Wyse Jackson was educated at Trinity College Dublin, where he took a BA and an MA in botany, and a PhD for work related to the taxonomy of the Cruciferae of Ireland.

In 1980 he became curator of the botanical garden of the college.

Career
Wyse Jackson left Trinity in 1987 and joined the, in south-west London. In 1994 he was made secretary-general of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, which he had helped to set up. He also worked on the formulation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation of the United Nations.

In 2005 he returned to Ireland to become director of the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin.

2010, Wyse Jackson succeeded Peter Raven as president of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. Concurrently with his selection as President of the Missouri Botanical Garden, he was named the George Engelmann Professor of Botany at Washington University in St. Louis.

On January 23, 2024, it was announced that Dr. Wyse Jackson would transition to the role of President Emeritus.

He has written academic papers on plant conservation, botanic gardens and endangered island flora conservation.