

2 Memoir of William Machire. 



The study of natural history in this country, thought late in 

 attracting general attention, has expanded with surprising rapidi- 

 ty. ■ Thirty years ago all our naturalists were embraced in a few 

 cultivators of botany and mineralogy, while the other branches 

 were comparatively unheeded and unknown. The vast field of 

 inquiry was devoid of laborers, excepting here and there a soli- 

 tary individual who pursued the sequestered paths of science, fill- 

 ed with an enthusiasm of which the busy world knew nothing. 

 How widely different is the scene which now presents itself to 

 our view ! We see the unbounded resources of the land broi 

 forth to the light of day, and made to minister to the wants and 

 the intelligence of humanity. Every region is explored, every 

 locality is anxiously searched for new objects of utility, or new 

 sources of study and instruction. 



In connection with these gratifying facts, it will be reasonably 

 inquired, who were they who fostered the early infancy of science 

 in our country? Who stood forth, unmindful of the sneer of 

 ignorance and the frown of prejudice, to unveil the fascinating 



truths of nature ? 



Among the most zealous and efficient of these pioneers of dis- 

 covery was William Maclure. 



This gentleman, the son of David and Ann Maclure, was born 

 at Ayr in Scotland, in the year 1763 ; and he there received the 

 primary part of his education under the charge of Mr. Douglass, 

 an intelligent teacher, who was especially reputed for classical 

 and mathematical attainments. His pupil's strong mind readily 

 acquired the several branches of a liberal education; but he has 

 often remarked, that from childhood he was disposed to reject the 

 learning of the schools for the simpler and more attractive truths 

 of natural history. The active duties of life, however, soon en- 

 grossed his time and attention ; and at the early age of nineteen 

 years he visited the United States with a view to mercantile em- 

 ployment. He landed in the city of New York; and having 

 made the requisite arrangements, returned without delay to Lon- 

 don, where he commenced his career of commercial enterprise as 

 a partner in the house of Miller, Hart & Co. He devoted him- 

 self to business with great assiduity, and speedily reaped a cor- 

 responding reward. In the year 1796 he again visited America, 

 in order to arrange some unsettled business of the parent estab- 

 lishment : but in 1803 we find him once more in England, not, 



