Charles Pickering (naturalist)

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Charles Pickering

Charles Pickering (November 10, 1805 – March 17, 1878) was an American naturalist and physician. He is best known for his work in ethnology and botany, and for his participation in the United States Exploring Expedition (1838–1842), also known as the Wilkes Expedition.

Early Life and Education

Charles Pickering was born in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Timothy Pickering, a prominent politician and statesman. Pickering graduated from Harvard University in 1823 and later received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1826.

Career

United States Exploring Expedition

Pickering was appointed as one of the naturalists for the United States Exploring Expedition, which was led by Charles Wilkes. The expedition aimed to explore and survey the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands. During the expedition, Pickering focused on the study of ethnology, botany, and zoology. His observations and collections contributed significantly to the scientific knowledge of the time.

Contributions to Ethnology

Pickering's work in ethnology was pioneering. He classified human populations into different races based on physical characteristics and cultural practices. His book, "The Races of Man and Their Geographical Distribution," published in 1848, was one of the first comprehensive studies on human diversity.

Botanical Work

In addition to his work in ethnology, Pickering made significant contributions to botany. He collected numerous plant specimens during the United States Exploring Expedition, many of which were previously unknown to science. His botanical collections are housed in various herbaria, including the Harvard University Herbaria.

Later Life and Death

After the expedition, Pickering continued his scientific work and published several papers on ethnology and botany. He spent his later years in Boston, Massachusetts, where he died on March 17, 1878.

Legacy

Charles Pickering's contributions to natural history and ethnology have had a lasting impact. His work laid the foundation for future studies in these fields and provided valuable insights into the diversity of human populations and plant species.

Selected Works

• "The Races of Man and Their Geographical Distribution" (1848)
• Various papers on botany and ethnology

See Also

• United States Exploring Expedition
• Ethnology
• Botany
• Charles Wilkes