THE 



AMERICAN 



JOUKML OF SCIENCE AND AETS. 



[SECOND SERIES.] 



Aet. XIIL — Biographical Memoir of tlte late Francois Andre 



Michaux ; hy Elias Dukand.* 

 FRANgois Andre Michaux ^ras born on the IGtli of August, 



1770, at Satory, a royal domain situated in the idcinity of Ver- 

 sailles, which, for several generations, had been intrusted b}^ the 

 Crown to the administration and management of his ancestors. 

 He was the only son of Andre Michaux, who, wath Catesby, 

 day ton, Bartram, Kahn and AYalter, was one of the pioneers of 

 botanical explorations in the North American regions. His 

 mother Cecile Clave, was a dauo;hter of a rich farmer of Beauce. 

 !^ue died, eleven months after her marriage^ leaving behind her, 

 a son, the subject of this notice. 



Of the early life of Francois Andre Michaux, I have not been 

 able to collect much information. It is probable that he was 

 brought up on the farm of Satory in the practical school of his 

 father, and of one of his uncles, upon whom devolved, after the 

 departure of the former, the " 



royal estate. It may be inferred also from his writings and in- 

 structive conversation, that his collegiate education had not been 

 neglected, 



^ Ilis father, whose history is inseparably linked with that of 

 his son, had devoted all his "life to the progress of agriculture and 

 the sciences ; his main ambition had been to effect something 



* From the Transactions of the x\inerlcaa Philosophical Society, Vol. XI, p. xviL 

 Read Dec. 5th, 1856. 



SECOiND SEKIES VOL. XXIV, NO. Tl. SEPT., 18&T. 



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