John Adlum
Encyclopedia
John Adlum was a pioneering American viticulturalist
, a surveyor
and an associate judge.
. He was a soldier and then a major in the American Provisional Army during the American Revolutionary War
. He would later be promoted to Brigadier General
in the Pennsylvania militia
. His surveying experience was sufficient for him to work in many state surveys. He was soon appointed to study navigation of the Susquehanna
and Schuylkill
rivers. He served as Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
associate judge for three years. However his life-long dream and greatest service was to the cultivation and science of American grapes.
, Washington, D.C.
which was partly on the present day site of the Bureau of Standards
. He was one of the first to urge the U.S. federal government to support research institutions, agricultural one in particular, an endeavor which would qualify as a successful 90 years later. Later he grew an experimental farm, after an unsuccessful similar proposal offered to the federal government was refused.
He received valuable assistance in his field via his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson
and an earlier acquaintance, Dr. Joseph Priestly. He excelled in
American viticulture and wine
making. He first grew several European and American varieties. However he would later restrict grape and wine production to native varieties, looking to improve them, an idea he shared with Thomas Jefferson. Current popular production and consumption of Catawba
grapes owes itself to his earlier pioneering propagation, cultivation and distribution of the variety. He married Margaret Adlum, a cousin, in 1813 and had two daughters. In memorial to his work, the climbing plant, Adlumia
, was named in his honor. He died at "The Vineyard" near Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
, a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
and an associate judge.
Background
He was born in York, PennsylvaniaYork, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
. He was a soldier and then a major in the American Provisional Army during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He would later be promoted to Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the Pennsylvania militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. His surveying experience was sufficient for him to work in many state surveys. He was soon appointed to study navigation of the Susquehanna
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
and Schuylkill
Schuylkill River
The Schuylkill River is a river in Pennsylvania. It is a designated Pennsylvania Scenic River.The river is about long. Its watershed of about lies entirely within the state of Pennsylvania. The source of its eastern branch is in the Appalachian Mountains at Tuscarora Springs, near Tamaqua in...
rivers. He served as Lycoming County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
associate judge for three years. However his life-long dream and greatest service was to the cultivation and science of American grapes.
Primary career
He created a 200 acre (0.809372 km²) farm and nursery at GeorgetownGeorgetown, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown is a neighborhood located in northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. Founded in 1751, the port of Georgetown predated the establishment of the federal district and the City of Washington by 40 years...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
which was partly on the present day site of the Bureau of Standards
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology , known between 1901 and 1988 as the National Bureau of Standards , is a measurement standards laboratory, otherwise known as a National Metrological Institute , which is a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce...
. He was one of the first to urge the U.S. federal government to support research institutions, agricultural one in particular, an endeavor which would qualify as a successful 90 years later. Later he grew an experimental farm, after an unsuccessful similar proposal offered to the federal government was refused.
He received valuable assistance in his field via his correspondence with Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
and an earlier acquaintance, Dr. Joseph Priestly. He excelled in
American viticulture and wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
making. He first grew several European and American varieties. However he would later restrict grape and wine production to native varieties, looking to improve them, an idea he shared with Thomas Jefferson. Current popular production and consumption of Catawba
Catawba
Catawba may refer to several things:*Catawba , a Native American tribe*Catawban languages-Botany:*Catalpa, a genus of trees, based on the name used by the Catawba and other Native American tribes*Catawba , a variety of grape...
grapes owes itself to his earlier pioneering propagation, cultivation and distribution of the variety. He married Margaret Adlum, a cousin, in 1813 and had two daughters. In memorial to his work, the climbing plant, Adlumia
Adlumia
Adlumia fungosa is a species in the Papaveraceae that is commonly known as the Allegheny vine, Climbing Fumitory, or mountain fringe. It is a herbaceous, creeping, flowering plant and is closely related to the Fumitory genus, Fumaria....
, was named in his honor. He died at "The Vineyard" near Georgetown, Washington, D.C.
Other
The Williamsburg Winery in Williamsburg, VA, sells a John Adlum Chardonnay, named specifically after Adlum.Notable works
- A Memoir on the Cultivation of the Vine in America and the Best Mode of Making Wine. 1823.
- A Memoir on the Cultivation of the Vine in America and the Best Mode of Making Wine. Enlarged ed. 1828.
- Adlum on Making Wine. 1826.
External links
- The John Adlum papers are at the William L. Clements LibraryWilliam L. Clements LibraryThe William L. Clements Library is a rare book and manuscript repository located on the University of Michigan's central campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan...
.