Biographical Sketch of Dr. William DARLINGTON, LL. D. (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
207.

"DR. WILLIAM DARLINGTON, LL. D., whose name is known and respected throughout
the botanical world, was the eldest child of Edward and Hannah (Townsend)
Darlington, and was born near Dilworthtown, Birmingham township, Chester
county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1782.  He was the first medical student to
graduate from the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania.  He
always resided in his native county, and while practicing his profession to
some extent, yet gave his time chiefly to botanical research.  In 1826, he
published his 'Cestrica,' and in 1847 his 'Agricultural Botany.'  Besides
these he published many interesting botanical papers.  In 1825 he was among
the first that were interested in State canals and railroads.  Dr. Darlington
served in the Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses of the United
States, and was opposed to the extension of slavery.  He died April 23, 1863,
and the memorial stone over his remains in Oakland cemetery bears the following
lines written by himself twnety years before his death: 'The plants of Chester,
which he loved and described, may they blossom forever above his tomb.'"