Humphry Marshall
Encyclopedia
Humphry Marshall was an American botanist and plant dealer.
(within West Bradford Township
) on October 10, 1722. He was the cousin of botanist John Bartram
and William Bartram
. Like many early American botanists, he was a Quaker.
Marshall received the rudiments of an English education, and was apprenticed to the business of a stonemason, which trade he subsequently followed. Soon after his marriage in 1748 to Sarah Pennock he took charge of his father's farm, and about that time began to devote his attention to astronomy and natural history
, building a small observatory in one corner of his residence. He specialized early in native plants, after gaining his enthusiasm for botany
from John Bartram. In 1767 he came into the possession of the family estate, and in 1773 he created a botanical garden
at Marshallton with both native and exotic plants. This was the second in the United States
, the first having been established by John Bartram. As late as 1849, many of the plants still survived, although neglect had turned the garden into a mere wilderness.
In 1785, Marshall published "Arboretum Americanum: the American Grove, an Alphabetical Catalogue of Forest Trees and Shrubs, Natives of the American United States" (Philadelphia). For many years, he was the treasurer for Chester County
and trustee of the public loan office. In 1786, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
, and he was a member of other scientific societies.
Marshall's first wife died in 1786; he married Margaret Minshall in 1788. He had no children by either wife. In his later years, he was partly blinded by cataract
s. Marshall died on November 5, 1801. In 1848 the Borough of West Chester named the public square the Marshall Square in his honor.
".
A genus of plants, Marshallia
, was named in honor of Humphry Marshall and his nephew Moses Marshall, also a botanist.
Marshall Square Park in the Borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania, is four miles east of Marshallton where Humphry Marshall was born; the Park's founders named the square after their 18th century predecessor. On June 27, 2007 — proclaimed Humphry Marshall Day by Borough Mayor, Dick Yoder — a long-overdue marker honoring the Park's namesake was unveiled.
Biography
Humphry Marshall was born in the village of Marshallton, PennsylvaniaMarshallton, Chester County, Pennsylvania
Marshallton is an unincorporated community and federal historic district in West Bradford Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is one of three historic districts in West Bradford Township that are on the National Register of Historic Places...
(within West Bradford Township
West Bradford Township, Pennsylvania
West Bradford Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 12,376 at the 2010 census. There are three federal historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places located within West Bradford Township .-Geography:According to the United States...
) on October 10, 1722. He was the cousin of botanist John Bartram
John Bartram
*Hoffmann, Nancy E. and John C. Van Horne, eds., America’s Curious Botanist: A Tercentennial Reappraisal of John Bartram 1699-1777. Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 243. ....
and William Bartram
William Bartram
William Bartram was an American naturalist. The son of Ann and John Bartram, William Bartram and his twin sister Elizabeth were born in Kingsessing, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. As a boy, he accompanied his father on many of his travels, to the Catskill Mountains, the New Jersey Pine Barrens,...
. Like many early American botanists, he was a Quaker.
Marshall received the rudiments of an English education, and was apprenticed to the business of a stonemason, which trade he subsequently followed. Soon after his marriage in 1748 to Sarah Pennock he took charge of his father's farm, and about that time began to devote his attention to astronomy and natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
, building a small observatory in one corner of his residence. He specialized early in native plants, after gaining his enthusiasm for botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
from John Bartram. In 1767 he came into the possession of the family estate, and in 1773 he created a botanical garden
Botanical garden
A botanical garden The terms botanic and botanical, and garden or gardens are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word botanic is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is a well-tended area displaying a wide range of plants labelled with their botanical names...
at Marshallton with both native and exotic plants. This was the second in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the first having been established by John Bartram. As late as 1849, many of the plants still survived, although neglect had turned the garden into a mere wilderness.
In 1785, Marshall published "Arboretum Americanum: the American Grove, an Alphabetical Catalogue of Forest Trees and Shrubs, Natives of the American United States" (Philadelphia). For many years, he was the treasurer for Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
and trustee of the public loan office. In 1786, he was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
, and he was a member of other scientific societies.
Marshall's first wife died in 1786; he married Margaret Minshall in 1788. He had no children by either wife. In his later years, he was partly blinded by cataract
Cataract
A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light...
s. Marshall died on November 5, 1801. In 1848 the Borough of West Chester named the public square the Marshall Square in his honor.
Legacy
Marshall has been called the "Father of American DendrologyDendrology
Dendrology or xylology is the science and study of wooded plants . There is no sharp boundary between plant taxonomy and dendrology. However, woody plants not only belong to many different plant families, but these families may be made up of both woody and non-woody members. Some families include...
".
A genus of plants, Marshallia
Marshallia
Marshallia is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae, endemic to the southeastern United States. A common name applied to most species in the genus is Barbara's Buttons. There are seven species, all perennials. The small white-to-pinkish flowers occur in large, compact, spherical heads...
, was named in honor of Humphry Marshall and his nephew Moses Marshall, also a botanist.
Marshall Square Park in the Borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania, is four miles east of Marshallton where Humphry Marshall was born; the Park's founders named the square after their 18th century predecessor. On June 27, 2007 — proclaimed Humphry Marshall Day by Borough Mayor, Dick Yoder — a long-overdue marker honoring the Park's namesake was unveiled.