THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 199 



JOSEPH CARSON. 



Dr. Joseph Carson * was born in Philadelphia on Easter 

 Monday, the 19th of April, 1808, and died December 30, 

 1876, in his sixty-ninth year. His paternal ancestors were 

 originally from Scotland, and belonged to that rigid and 

 staunch Presbyterian denomination which has made its 

 deep impress upon the politics and institutions of our 

 country. 



The rudiments of young Carson's education were 

 obtained at the Germantown Academy, then under the 

 patronage of Mr. John Brewer, a very highly respected 

 teacher in his day. The building still stands in School 

 Lane, bearing the coat of arms of George IV, a relic of the 

 olden time. As he grew older he was placed under the 

 tuition of Mr. White, of Philadelphia. 



From Mr. White's school Mr. Carson entered (at the 

 age of fifteen years) the Sophomore Class of the University 

 of Pennsylvania, at this time under the presidency of the 

 Rev. Frederick Beasley, D. D. The early part of his col- 

 legiate life was somewhat ruffled, from his not being as 

 well prepared as he should have been, and his having to 

 relearn his Latin pronunciation. This annoyed him greatly. 

 Nor did he, at best, much relish his academic career, and 

 probably would not have pursued his studies here had it 

 not been for the persistent efforts of a devoted aunt, who 

 helped and encouraged the young student. Having resolved 

 on this course, he showed, as he did throughout his life, a 

 determination to do his part faithfully, and to strive for 

 excellence; so that, with close application to his books 



* Memoirs of Joseph Carson, M. D., by James Darrach, M. D., read before the 

 College of Physicians, Philadelphia, May 7,1879, extracted from the "Transactions," 

 Third Series, Volume IV. 



