14-2 THE PLANT WORLD. 



Southern flora, taking up the science at first as a pastime, but becom- 

 ing more and more interested, until later it became the best loved 

 and principal work of his life. As his interest in botany deepened, 

 his acquaintance among scientific men widened until ultimately it 

 embraced all the leading botanists, both at home and abroad, prom- 

 inent among whom was the late Dr. Asa Gray, whose friendship saved 

 from confiscation the plates of the first edition of his " Flora " during 

 the troublous times of the civil war. By the advice of Dr. Gray and 

 others he was induced to undertake the preparation of a work on 

 the Southern flora, and the first edition of his " Flora of the South- 

 ern States," a handsome volume of 621 pages, was published in May 

 i860. This became at once the leading authority, and in December, 

 1882, the additions and corrections were incorporated, in the form of 

 a supplement of some 70 pages, in a second edition. In 1896 Dr. 

 Chapman published the third edition of his " Flora," which was neces- 

 sitated by the numerous additions and corrections in nomenclature, 

 made imperative by the advancing science. The last edition was en- 

 tirely rewritten and in many ways improved. This " Flora " will long 

 remain as a monument to his memory and intimate knowledge of 

 Southern plants. 



Dr. Chapman's first and most complete herbarium became, some 

 years ago, the property of Columbia University in New York. A later 

 collection, together with most of his library and the original manu- 

 script of his " Flora," is owned at Biltmore, the Vanderbilt estate. 



In 1836 Dr. Chapman married Mrs. Mary Hancock, of Newbern, 

 N. C, a highly educated and accomplished lady. She died many 

 years ago, and, as they had no children, Dr. Chapman was the last of 

 his name and family in this country, although two granddaughters of 

 his wife survive him. 



"In person Dr. Chapman was of commanding presence and mag- 

 nificent physique, with the old-time courtliness of manner and differ- 

 ential courtesy which constitute so charming a personality ; and at the 

 same time his sound judgment, high sense of honor, firmness and 

 decision of character, with great kindliness of heart, impressed every 

 one with whom he came in contact." He was always busy and always 

 interested, yet found time to read much, and regularly read Greek, 

 Latin, German and French, having taken up the study of German 

 after he was seventy years of age. The only faculty which failed him 

 was his hearing. Although in his ninetieth year, his step was firm 

 and assured, and within a week of his death he walked between two 

 and three miles to secure the blossoms of a rare ash tree. His death 

 was occasioned by heart trouble, and occurred within an hour after 

 the fatal attack. 



