Biographical Sketch of John BARTRAM (1893); Chester County, PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris <jmcdmorris@comcast.net>.

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Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania,
comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by
Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, page
337.

"JOHN BARTRAM was the eldest son of William and Elizabeth (Hunt) Bartram, and
was born near Darby, in that part of Chester, which is now Delaware county,
March 23, 1699.

"He found few helps to education in early life, but study and perseverance over-
came a host of difficulties.  He seldom sat down to a meal without a book, and
he learned the classic languages with great facility.  In the study of medicine
and surgery he greatly delighted; and drawing his medicines chiefly from the
vegetable kingdom, he practiced successfully among the poor of his neighborhood.
His avocation was that of a farmer, and his favorite study was botany.

"Mr. Bartram was the first American who conceived the plan of establishing a
botanic garden for American plants and vegetables.  He carried his plan into
execution by devoting about six acres near Philadelhpia to the purpose.  He
traversed the country in every direction, from Canada on the north ot Florida on
the south, in search of new productions, and his garden was enriched and beauti-
fied by the results of his explorations.  His philosophical knowledge attracted
the attention of learned and scientific men, at home and abroad, and with these
his intercourse became extensive.  He sent many botanical collections to Europe,
and their beauty, novelty and admirable classification won universal applause.
Literary and scientific societies of London, Edinburgh, Stockholm, and other
cities, placed ;his name among those of their honorary members; and finally,
George the Third of England appointed him 'American Botanist to his Majesty.'
He held that honrable position until his death, which occurred September 22,
1777, when he was in the seventy-eighth year of his age."