The fifth of nine children born to John and Ann Bartram, William Bartram (1739-1823) received an excellent formal education. He showed an early interest in the natural sciences and accompanied his father on numerous collecting trips. John called him “Billy, my little botanist.”
Following several unsuccessful attempts at business and farming, William set forth in 1773 on a four-year solitary journey through eight southern colonies. He made scores of drawings and took meticulous notes on the flora, fauna, and native American Indians.
In 1791, his journals were published as Travels. The book went into several foreign editions and today is regarded as an American natural history classic. The prestigious Library of America recently added Travels to its published library of the works of great American authors.
