WILLIAM F. GANONG - Famous Biologist from the Candy Family!!

William Francis Ganong, M.A., Ph.D., LL.D., F.R.S.C., (19 February 1864 - 7 September 1941) was a Canadian biologist botanist, historian and cartographer. His botany career was spent mainly as a professor at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. In his private life he contributed to the historical and geographical understanding of his native New Brunswick.

Ganong was born in Carleton (now West Saint John), NB, on February 19, 1864, the eldest of seven siblings. When he was nine years old, his family moved to St. Stephen where his father, James Harvey Ganong and Uncle Gilbert Ganong established the Ganong Brothers candy factory. It was expected that young William would enter the family business when he came of age, but early on, he showed an interest in the natural world. These interests extended to botany, reading, maps, and exploring the countryside. He also showed a talent for languages. Through his life he would come to have at least a working knowledge of French, German, Maliseet, and Mi'kmaq. He was an early naturalist and by the age of seventeen, he had first-hand knowledge of numerous rivers and coastal areas of New Brunswick as well as the flora and fauna of the province. His explorations would continue throughout his life, both on his own and with one or more companions. He received education from public school in St. Stephen, while attending his last year of high school in Saint John.