THOMAS SAY. 



1787-1834. 



Ac ACT we torn toward l\miifliimi aad a Quaker family 

 to trace the extraction of an American pioneer of science. 



Thomas Say, the father of American entomology, was born 

 in Philadelphia, July 27, 1787. His great-grandfather, William 

 Say, was an early Quaker mfaw* His grandfather, who had 

 the same name as the naturalist, followed the calling of an 

 apothecary. He helped to found the Pennsylvania Hospital, 

 and was prominent in other philanthropic undertakings. When 

 a young man he supposed that he visited heaven in a trance. 

 An account of this vision and other matters was published by 

 his son, Dr. Benjamin Say, who succeeded him in the apothe- 

 cary business. The son was equally public-spirited with his 

 father. In 1781, the year after taking his medical degree, his 

 name is found among those of the " fighting Quakers," who 

 were disowned by the general body of the Friends for their ac- 

 tive sympathy with the military operations of the colonists in 

 the Revolution, Dr. Say was a founder of the College of Phy- 

 sicians, of Philadelphia, and its treasurer for eighteen years. 

 He was a contributor to the Pennsylvania Hospital, a founder 

 of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, and for many years Presi- 

 dent of the Humane Society. He served in Congress from 1808 

 to 1811. 



The naturalist was a son of Dr. Benjamin Say and his wife 

 Anna, daughter of Benjamin Ronsall, of Kingsessing. William 

 Bartram was still living at the famous botanic garden at King- 

 sessing during Thomas Say's boyhood, and Thomas with other 

 boys was enlisted by a family connection in gathering natural 

 curiosities for Bartram's museum. This pursuit young Say 

 found very congenial 



At an early age the boy was placed in a boarding school 

 under the control of the Friends, but he did not take kindly to 



m 



