George Bird (coffee planter)

George Bird was a British coffee planter who operated in Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka) during the 19th century. He is notable for his pioneering efforts in establishing coffee plantations in the Nuwara Eliya region, a high-altitude area that proved exceptionally well-suited for coffee cultivation.

Bird played a significant role in the early development of Ceylon's coffee industry, contributing to the island's emergence as a major global coffee producer during that period. He experimented with different coffee varieties and cultivation techniques, helping to refine best practices for the region. His success encouraged further investment and expansion in the coffee sector, transforming the economic landscape of Ceylon.

While precise details of his life and specific innovations may be fragmented across historical records, George Bird is remembered as a key figure in the establishment of the coffee industry in Ceylon, particularly in the crucial Nuwara Eliya district. His contributions helped pave the way for the island's subsequent prosperity based on coffee exports until the coffee blight decimated the industry in the late 19th century.