John Bartram

John Bartram (1699–1777) was a pioneering American botanist and naturalist. Often called the “Father of American Botany,” he was the first professional botanist in the colonies. Bartram cultivated, studied, and documented plants native to North America, establishing one of the earliest and most comprehensive plant collections. His work contributed significantly to botanical science and helped Europeans learn about American flora. He also founded the Royal Garden at America's first botanical garden near Philadelphia, fostering scientific exchange. Bartram’s meticulous observations and collection efforts laid important groundwork for future botanical research in North America.