29 



JOHN L. E. W. SHECUT. 



Prominent among the early botanical workers of our 

 State we find the name of John L. E. W. Shecut. Dr. 

 Shecut was the son of Abraham and Marie Barbary 

 Shecut, French Huguenots, driven to Switzerland dur- 

 ing the early years of the persecution, and from thence 

 taking passage to America, settling in Beaufort, S. C. 

 Dr. Shecut was born in Beaufort, S. C, December 4, 

 1770, and died in Charleston, S. C, June, 1836. His par- 

 ents removed to Charleston at some time prior to 1779. 



His early medical training was received under a 

 friend of the family. Dr. David Ramsay, famous as a 

 historian and physician, and later he went to Philadel- 

 phia where he received the degree of M. D. in 1791, 

 at 21 years of age. He returned to Charleston and im- 

 mediately began the practice of medicine, which 'he 

 continued till his death. 



Dr. Shecut was twice married, first to Miss Sarah 

 Cannon, of Edisto Island, on January 26, 1792 ; the sec- 

 ond time, February 7, 1805, to Miss Susanna Ballard, 

 of Georgetown, S. C. As a result of these unions nine 

 children were born ; four by the first marriage and five 

 by the second. 



In 1813 Dr. Shecut founded 'The Antiquarian So- 

 ciety of South Carolina," which afterward became 

 'The Literary and Philosophical Society of South Car- 

 olina." 



He was the founder, and for a length of time presi- 

 dent of the American Homespun Company," estab- 

 lished in 1820, which operated, it is believed, the first 

 cotton mill in the State. This was built in the vicinity 

 of Charleston, S. C. 



In his medical practice he was one of the earliest 

 physicians in this country to use electricity in the treat- 

 ment of disease, and in 1806 he exhibited to the public 



