The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bartram, John

​BARTRAM, John, botanist, was born at Marple, Delaware county, Pa., March 23, 1699. His first intention was to become a physician, and he devoted some time to studying for that profession, but his natural tastes inclined him toward botany, and he founded, near Philadelphia, the first botanical garden in this country. His success was so marked that Linnæus called him the most accomplished natural botanist of the world, and in America he became known as "the father of American botany." He made long excursions and collected many valuable specimens. He was held in such esteem abroad, that he was made American botanist to George III. He is the author of "Observations on the Inhabitants, Climate, Soil, Rivers, Productions, Animals and Other Matters Worthy of Notice, Made by Mr. John Bartram in his Travels from Pennsylvania to Onondaga, Oswego, and the Lake Ontario in Canada" (1751), and he also contributed to several scientific journals, notably a paper on his visit to East Florida in 1765-'66. He died at Kingsessing, Pa., Sept. 22, 1777.