The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bartram, William

​BARTRAM, William, botanist, was born in Kingsessing, near Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 9, 1739; son of John Bartram, the "father of American botany." Being bred in an atmosphere of natural science, he acquired a taste for botany, and the business life which he first entered was soon ​exchanged for the study of that science. He published in 1792 a book entitled "Travels Through North and South Carolina, Georgia, East and West Florida, the Cherokee Country, the Extensive Territories of the Muscogees, or Creek Confederacy, and the Country of the Choctaws." He became famous as a scientist. He was unmarried, and lived quite alone. His home was filled with rare plants and flowers, and was frequently visited by strangers. In 1791 William Dunlap paid him a visit, which he describes: "Arrival at the botanist's garden, we approached an old man, who, with a rake in his hand, was breaking the clods of earth on a tulip bed. His hat was an old one, and flopped over his face; his coarse shirt was seen near his neck, as he wore no cravat or kerchief; his waistcoat and breeches were both of leather, and his shoes were tied with leather strings. We approached and accosted him. He ceased his work and entered into conversation with the ease and politeness of nature's nobleman; his countenance was expressive of benignity and happiness. This was the botanist, traveller and philosopher we had come to see." Alexander Wilson was greatly aided in his scientific work by Mr. Bartram, whose ornithological studies were very extended. His publications include: "Anecdotes of a Crow," "Description of Certhia." "Memoirs of John Bartram," "Observations on the Creek and Cherokee Indians," and a list of American birds. He died July 22, 1823.