160 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



mathematician and astronomer, and first President of the 

 Philosophical Society. One of his sons, Dr. Benjamin 

 Smith Barton, held the chair of Materia Medica, Natural 

 History and Botany in the University of Pennsylvania. 

 Another son, William Barton, Esq., member of the Bar, 

 was the father of Dr. William P. C. Barton. 



Dr. William P. C. Barton received his classical educa- 

 tion at Princeton College. He graduated with distinction 

 at an early age and immediately commenced the study of 

 medicine under his uncle, Dr. B. S. Barton, and graduated 

 at the University of Pennsylvania in 1808. The subject of 

 his graduation thesis was deemed worthy of publication. 



After graduating Dr. Barton commenced practicing in 

 Philadelphia ; he was surgeon at the Pennsylvania Hospital, 

 and shortly afterward, upon the recommendation of the 

 celebrated Dr. Benjamin Rush and Dr. Physick, was 

 appointed surgeon in the Navy. He was for many years on 

 active duty, and distinguished himself, not only by his 

 ability in the treatment of diseases, but by his great skill in 

 the performance of difficult and delicate operations. 



During his releases from sea service he was not content 

 to pass his time unemployed, but devoted himself with 

 great professional ardor to the publication of various works, 

 which, at the time, acquired considerable reputation. 

 Among others, his work on " Marine Hospitals " (published 

 in 1814), his " Vegetable Materia Medica," and " Flora of 

 North America," with drawings from nature, made by 

 himself and colored by his wife (published in 1817 and 

 1818), his translations of a number of treatises were exten- 

 sively circulated, and gained for their author considerable 

 celebritv. 



