William Saunders was born on June 16, 1836, in Crediton, England, to James Saunders, a shoemaker and Methodist preacher, and Jane Wollacott Saunders. In 1848, when he was twelve years old, Saunders and his family emigrated to Canada, settling in London, Ontario.
As a young man, Saunders received little to no formal education, instead apprenticing with a local druggist named John Salter. At the age of nineteen, he opened his own pharmacy, which he later expanded into a wholesale pharmaceutical business specializing in medicinal extracts from plants.
Saunders became a prominent figure in the pharmaceutical community in Canada and the United States. He was a founding member and later president of the Canadian Pharmaceutical Society and actively served as president of the American Pharmaceutical Association in 1877-1878. He also helped establish the Ontario College of Pharmacy in 1871 and lectured on pharmacology at the University of Western Ontario.
Saunders' interest in plants and their medicinal properties led him to entomology, with a focus on agricultural applications. He co-founded the Entomological Society of Canada in 1863 and, along with Charles Bethune, published the "Canadian Entomologist" journal. In 1869, he purchased a small farm near London, where he conducted experiments in hybridization, publishing his findings with the Fruit Growers' Association of Ontario.
Saunders' most significant contributions were in horticulture and agriculture. By 1880, he was recognized as Canada's leading authority on agriculture and horticulture. When the Canadian government sought to improve agricultural output, they turned to Saunders for guidance. He was appointed the first director of the Experimental Farm System in 1887, a position he held for almost 25 years. During his tenure, he led research in horticulture, forestry, and animal husbandry, with a focus on practical solutions for Canadian farmers.
Saunders published over 200 scientific papers, articles, and books throughout his career, covering diverse topics such as entomology, forestry, horticulture, and pharmaceuticals. Some of his notable works include:
William Saunders was married to Sarah Agnes Robinson, with whom he had six children. Sarah shared his interest in botany, collecting rare plant specimens that later became part of the National Herbarium of Canada.
Saunders received numerous honors during his lifetime, including honorary degrees from Queen's University in 1896 and the University of Toronto in 1904, and being made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1905. He retired in 1911 due to failing health and passed away on September 13, 1914, in London, Ontario.
There are several other notable individuals named William Saunders, including: