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Gray (ASA an American botanist born)

ASA, an American botanist; born in Paris, Oneida co., N. Y., Nov. 18, 1810. He took his degree of M. D. in 1831, but soon relinquished the prac- 18, 1810. He took his degree of M. D. in 1831, but soon relinquished the practice of medicine, and and devoted himself to botany. In 1834 he received the appoint- ment of botanist of the United States ex- ploring expedition to the S. seas; but, as a long delay took place before it was ready to sail, he resigned his post in 1837. He was afterward elected Professor of Botany in the University of Michigan, but declined the appointment, and in 1842 became Fisher Professor of Natural History at Harvard. In 1873 he retired from the chair, but still retainel charge of the great herbarium he had presented to the university in 1864; and in 1874 he succeeded Agassiz as a regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

He ranked among the leading botanists of his age, and became an influential supof his age, and became an influential suplution. He wrote: "Flora of North America" (begun with Dr. Torrey, in 1838); "Flora of North Eastern America, Illustrated" (1848-1850); memoirs on the botanical results of several government exploring expeditions; a numernment exploring expeditions; a numof Darwin's Treatise" (1861); "Darwinia" (1876); and "Natural Science and Religion" (1880). He died in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 30, 30, 1888.