49 



JOSEPH HINSON MELLICHAMP. 



Joseph Hinson Mellichamp, physician and botanist, 

 was born in St. Luke's Parish, South Carolina, May 9, 

 1829. His father was for many years preceptor of 

 Beaufort College, and afterwards was pastor of St. 

 James Church, on James Island. Himself a lover of 

 outdoor life and of natural objects, he influenced the 

 tastes of his son in the same direction and especially for 

 botany, an influence which continued throughout his 

 life. 



In 1849 Joseph Hinson Mellichamp was graduated from 

 South Carolina College and in 1852 from the Medical 

 College at Charleston. He then spent some time in 

 Europe, studying in the hospitals of Dublin and Paris. 

 On his return he established himself as a physician at 

 Bluffton, S. C, and here he remained most of his life, 

 the exceptions being the time when he was a surgeon 

 in the army of the Confederacy, and when, during the 

 last years, much of his time was spent with his daugh- 

 ter and only child in New Orleans. 



His extended practice among the planters and their 

 dependents made strong demands on his time, but he 

 found time for much botanical research and collecting. 

 In the interesting floral region around him were many 

 of the rarer species described by Walter, Michaux and 

 Elliott. Specimens of these were much prized by the 

 botanical fraternity and, through his correspondents 

 were largely and freely distributed, finding their way 

 into, and retaining at the present time, a place in many 

 of the best herbaria. 



His advantageous location and familiarity with the 

 flora of his locality brought him into intimate touch 

 with many of the contemporary botanists of note. In 

 ''The Botanical Works of the late George Englemann," 

 edited by Wm. Trelease and Asa Gray, 1887, under 



