John Bartram
John Bartram, born on March 23, 1699, in Darby, Pennsylvania, is often referred to as the "Father of American Botany." Raised in a Quaker family and largely self-educated after the loss of his parents, Bartram developed a keen interest in botany that began through his use of medicinal herbs to help neighbors in need. His passion for plant exploration intensified following the death of his first wife in 1727, leading him to establish the first American botanical garden on his 107-acre property near Philadelphia. Bartram's extensive travels across North America allowed him to document and collect a wide variety of plant species, culminating in the publication of his influential journal in 1751. He was a close friend of Benjamin Franklin and co-founded the American Philosophical Society, which focused on scientific advancement. In 1765, he was appointed as botanist to King George III, further enabling his explorations and contributions to botany. Throughout his life, Bartram is credited with introducing between 150 and 200 new American plant species to Europe. He passed away on September 22, 1777, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of botany.
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John Bartram
Botanist
- Born: May 23, 1699
- Birthplace: Darby, Pennsylvania
- Died: September 27, 1777
- Place of death: Kingsessing, Pennsylvania
Biography
John Bartram, known as the “Father of American Botany,” was born in Darby, Pennsylvania, on March 23, 1699, into a Quaker family. As a result of losing his parents at an early age, Bartram lacked a formal education. Instead, he became self-educated through ambitious reading, studying Greek and Latin, and perhaps most important through acute perception and observation of his surroundings.
Despite the loss of his parents and lack of formal education, Bartram was considered an important person in his community. He was friends with Benjamin Franklin, with whom he founded the American Philosophical Society in 1743. This society was dedicated to the advancement of science and human intellect.
Bartram’s interest in botany began in his early adulthood when he used medicinal herbs to treat neighbors who were too poor to afford conventional doctors and medicine. Upon the death of his first wife in 1727, Bartram formally began his botanical exploration and collection. He purchased a small house located on 107 acres of land three miles outside Philadelphia. In 1729, he married his second wife, Ann Mendenhall, and expanded his house to accommodate his growing family. He had nine children between his two marriages.
On a five-acre section of his land, he began the first American botanical garden, the Barton Botanical Gardens, where he grew both native and exotic plants. It was at this time that he began extensive travels to collect a variety of plant species. During his numerous excursions, he recorded his findings and published the journal Observations on the Inhabitants, Climate, Soil, Rivers, Productions, Animals, and Other Matters Worthy of Notice Made by Mr. John Bartram, in His Travels from Pensilvania to Onondago, Oswego, and the Lake Ontario, in Canada (1751).
In 1765, Bartram received an appointment as botanist to King George III of England. This appointment provided an annual stipend of fifty pounds, which enabled Bartram to continue his North American expeditions. Although the exact number is unknown, it is believed that Bartram introduced between 150 and 200 new American plant species to Europe.
Bartram was a cofounder of the American Philosophical Society as well as a member of several other scientific societies. In addition to his published botanical journal, Bartram contributed papers to the Philosophical Transactions. He died on September 22, 1777, in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania.