106 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



resided in the vicinity of New York sixty-five and thirty-five years 

 respectively before coming to Canada. They were among the earHest 

 of the LoyaHsts to arrive, the Gesners coming to Nova Scotia in 1778 

 and the Lampmans to Niagara in 1779. Preferring loyalty to their 

 king rather than a share in the foundation of a new state built upon 

 rebellion, they sacrificed all the advantages acquired by years of 

 residence in the colonies and made their way to Canada in a condition 

 of practical destitution, leaving their property and possessions seized 

 of the Americans. 



Though the Gesners were of Swiss origin and the Lampmans of 

 German, it is interesting to note that in the poet no less than six 

 different nationalities were represented, namely, Swiss, French 

 German, Dutch and English. The Gesners were men of literary 

 culture, students of natural history, classical scholars, professors of 

 science and mathematics, theologians; the Lampmans were men of 

 the farm, big and forceful, who loved the open air. It would be diffi- 

 cult to say which of the two families was more distinctly represented 

 in the poet. In general build and personal appearance he resembled 

 the Gesners who were of short stature, dark hair and brown or black 

 eyes. From them in large measure he inherited his literary taste 

 and aptitude, his scholar's mind. Though the Gesners had lived in 

 the country and had scientifically studied the aspects of nature 

 since coming to Canada yet it would seem that the Lampmans be- 

 queathed to him that unique appreciation of the beauty of nature 

 which found expression in the poet's verse. 



The Gesner Family 



The Gesner family originated in Switzerland, whence some of 

 the branches moved into southern Germany which probably offered 

 them a larger field and better advantages for the pursuit of their 

 favourite studies. One branch, from which the poet was descended, 

 moved into Holland at an early date. During the past four centuries 

 the family has produced many celebrated scholars and scientists 

 whose labours are recorded in history. At the beginning of the 16th 

 century three brothers, Vasa, Paul, and Andreas Gesner resided at 

 Solothurn in Switzerland near the German border whence Andreas 

 and Vasa moved to Zurich. Vasa was the father of the eminent 

 naturalist Conrad von Gesner who was born at Zurich in 1516. He 

 was the most renowned scientist of his age, professor of Greek at 

 Lausanne and at Zurich, and for his achievements was knighted by 

 the Emperor Ferdinand I of Germany. He was not only a Greek 



