Stephen Elliott (botanist)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Elliott was an American legislator
, banker, educator, and botanist who is today remembered for having written one of the most important works in American botany
, A Sketch of the Botany of South-Carolina and Georgia.
on November 11, 1771. He grew up there, then moved to New Haven, Connecticut
to attend Yale University
. He graduated in 1791 as the valedictorian
of his class. From Yale, he returned to South Carolina
to work the plantation
that he had inherited.
He was elected
to the legislature in South Carolina in 1793 or 1796 (sources disagree) and served until about 1800. He then left the legislature and devoted himself to the management of his plantation. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1808 and worked to have a bank established by the state. When the bank was founded in 1812, he resigned from the legislature and was appointed president of what was then called the "Bank of the State of South Carolina", a position that he held for the rest of his life.
His leisure was devoted to literature and science, and he cultivated the study
of botany
with enthusiasm. In 1813 he was instrumental in founding the Literary and Philosophical Society of South Carolina, of which he was president. He lectured gratuitously on botany, and was for some time editor of the Southern Review. In 1825 he aided in establishing the Medical College of South Carolina
, and was elected professor of natural history
and botany
, which he taught until his death in 1830.
Stephen Elliott engaged in a long and active correspondence with many of the botanists of his time, but wrote an especially large number of letters to Henry Muhlenberg
of Pennsylvania
. The material that Elliott collected on numerous field trip
s and his intimate knowledge of the southeastern flora was of great value to botanists elsewhere. Elliott's herbarium
was one of the largest in America during his lifetime. Its specimen
s proved invaluable to John Torrey, Asa Gray
, and others. The herbarium is preserved at the Charleston Museum
.
work, A Sketch of the Botany of South-Carolina and Georgia contained the first botanical descriptions
of many species
. It was these descriptions which validated many of the names published as nomina nuda
by Henry Muhlenberg. Initially published in several installments from 1816 to 1824, these were later combined into two volumes: volume I in 1821 and volume II in 1824. These dates were dates of last installment, not dates of original publication. It was prepared with the assistance of James McBride.
In 1900, Science
described him as "the father of southern botany."
In 1901, Frank Lamson-Scribner wrote the following about Elliott's Sketch:
grew up to become a Protestant Episcopal bishop.
Legislator
A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...
, banker, educator, and botanist who is today remembered for having written one of the most important works in American 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...
, A Sketch of the Botany of South-Carolina and Georgia.
Biography
Stephen Elliott was born in Beaufort, South CarolinaBeaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
on November 11, 1771. He grew up there, then moved to New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
to attend Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He graduated in 1791 as the valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
of his class. From Yale, he returned to South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
to work the plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
that he had inherited.
He was elected
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
to the legislature in South Carolina in 1793 or 1796 (sources disagree) and served until about 1800. He then left the legislature and devoted himself to the management of his plantation. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1808 and worked to have a bank established by the state. When the bank was founded in 1812, he resigned from the legislature and was appointed president of what was then called the "Bank of the State of South Carolina", a position that he held for the rest of his life.
His leisure was devoted to literature and science, and he cultivated the study
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
of 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...
with enthusiasm. In 1813 he was instrumental in founding the Literary and Philosophical Society of South Carolina, of which he was president. He lectured gratuitously on botany, and was for some time editor of the Southern Review. In 1825 he aided in establishing the Medical College of South Carolina
Medical University of South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina opened in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 as a small private college for the training of physicians. It is one of the oldest continually operating school of medicine in the United States and the oldest in the Deep South...
, and was elected professor of 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...
and 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...
, which he taught until his death in 1830.
Stephen Elliott engaged in a long and active correspondence with many of the botanists of his time, but wrote an especially large number of letters to Henry Muhlenberg
Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg
Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg was an American clergyman and botanist.-Biography:The son of Heinrich Melchior Muhlenberg, he was born in Trappe, Pennsylvania. He was educated at in Halle starting in 1763 and in 1769 at the University of Halle. He returned to Pennsylvania in September 1770...
of 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...
. The material that Elliott collected on numerous field trip
Field trip
A field trip or excursion, known as school trip in the UK and school tour in Ireland, is a journey by a group of people to a place away from their normal environment...
s and his intimate knowledge of the southeastern flora was of great value to botanists elsewhere. Elliott's herbarium
Herbarium
In botany, a herbarium – sometimes known by the Anglicized term herbar – is a collection of preserved plant specimens. These specimens may be whole plants or plant parts: these will usually be in a dried form, mounted on a sheet, but depending upon the material may also be kept in...
was one of the largest in America during his lifetime. Its specimen
Specimen
A specimen is a portion/quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.BiologyA laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, a plant, part of a plant, or a microorganism, used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or...
s proved invaluable to John Torrey, Asa Gray
Asa Gray
-References:*Asa Gray. Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936.*Asa Gray. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.*Asa Gray. Plant Sciences. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001....
, and others. The herbarium is preserved at the Charleston Museum
Charleston Museum
The Charleston Museum was the first museum built in America and was founded in 1773. It is located in the Downtown Historic District of Charleston, South Carolina....
.
A Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Georgia
His classicClassic
The word classic means something that is a perfect example of a particular style, something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality. The word can be an adjective or a noun . It denotes a particular quality in art, architecture, literature and other cultural artifacts...
work, A Sketch of the Botany of South-Carolina and Georgia contained the first botanical descriptions
Plant taxonomy
Plant taxonomy is the science that finds, describes, classifies, identifies, and names plants. It thus is one of the main branches of taxonomy.Plant taxonomy is closely allied to plant systematics, and there is no sharp boundary between the two...
of many species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. It was these descriptions which validated many of the names published as nomina nuda
Nomen nudum
The phrase nomen nudum is a Latin term, meaning "naked name", used in taxonomy...
by Henry Muhlenberg. Initially published in several installments from 1816 to 1824, these were later combined into two volumes: volume I in 1821 and volume II in 1824. These dates were dates of last installment, not dates of original publication. It was prepared with the assistance of James McBride.
In 1900, Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
described him as "the father of southern botany."
In 1901, Frank Lamson-Scribner wrote the following about Elliott's Sketch:
Not until one has prepared a book where almost every line contains a statement of fact learned from original observation can he fully appreciate the amount of patience and labor involved in the preparation of such a work as the Sketch of the Botany of South Carolina and Georgia...today it remains indispensable to the working systematic botanists of our country.
Family
His son StephenStephen Elliott (bishop)
The Right Reverend Stephen Elliott was the 37th bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. He was the first Bishop of Georgia and Provisional Bishop of Florida...
grew up to become a Protestant Episcopal bishop.