202 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



After remaining a widower for seven years, Dr. Carson 

 formed a second matrimonial alliance with Mary Hollings- 

 worth, daughter of Henry Hollingsworth, who was for 

 many years Cashier of the Bank of North America. The 

 four children from this marriage were Henry (who died 

 in infancy), Hampton L., now a prominent lawyer, Ann C. 

 and Susan, who are left to mourn a loving and devoted 

 father. After the first ten years Dr. Carson's practice 

 increased very much, and he eventually gained an excellent 

 position as a practitioner of obstetrics. This branch of the 

 profession, however, necessitating much labor, wore upon 

 his health, compelling him to curtail his practice, which he 

 finally gave up for more congenial pursuits. 



From this time he begins to fill various positions of 

 honor, responsibility and trust. He also found time to 

 cultivate history, literature and biography; penetrated 

 somewhat into antiquarian pursuits. 



The first institution to which Dr. Carson became 

 attached was the Academy of Natural Sciences, to which he 

 was elected on October 29, 1835, and was one of its most 

 active and useful members. He assisted in arranging and 

 caring for the herbarium, was Librarian for two years, and 

 aided in preparing and publishing a catalogue of books; 

 was a member of the publication committee for two years, 

 and served as Secretary during six months in 1837. He 

 ultimately became one of the vice-presidents, which posi- 

 tion he occupied from December, 1869, to December, 1875. 

 He made communications to the Academy over a period of 

 forty-three years. At a period anterior to this. Dr. Carson 

 had reached another round in the ladder wdiich he was 

 gradually but surely ascending, namely, his election to be 



