Benjamin Smith Barton

Error creating thumbnail:

BenjaminSmithBarton

Benjamin Smith Barton (February 10, 1766 – December 19, 1815) was an American physician, naturalist, and botanist. He is best known for his work in the field of natural history and for his contributions to early American medicine and botany.

Early Life and Education

Barton was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to a prominent family. His father, David Barton, was a Revolutionary War surgeon, and his mother, Esther Barton, was known for her intellectual pursuits. Barton showed an early interest in the natural world, which was encouraged by his family.

He attended Princeton University (then the College of New Jersey) but left before graduating. He later studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his medical degree at the University of Göttingen in Germany.

Career

Upon returning to the United States, Barton began practicing medicine in Philadelphia. He was appointed as a professor of Materia Medica at the University of Pennsylvania in 1789. In 1796, he succeeded Benjamin Rush as the professor of theory and practice of medicine.

Barton was a prolific writer and published several important works, including Elements of Botany (1803), which was the first American textbook on the subject. He also wrote Collections for an Essay Towards a Materia Medica of the United States (1798-1804), which cataloged the medicinal plants of North America.

Contributions to Natural History

Barton was a pioneer in the study of Native American languages and cultures. He published New Views of the Origin of the Tribes and Nations of America (1797), which explored the connections between Native American languages and those of Asia.

He was also an early advocate for the study of paleontology and geology in the United States. Barton corresponded with many prominent scientists of his time, including Thomas Jefferson and Alexander von Humboldt.

Legacy

Barton was a founding member of the American Philosophical Society and served as its president from 1802 until his death in 1815. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

His work laid the foundation for future American botanists and naturalists. The plant genus Bartonia is named in his honor.

Death

Benjamin Smith Barton died on December 19, 1815, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground.

See Also

• Botany
• Natural history
• University of Pennsylvania
• American Philosophical Society