xXx BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. 
Corvisart, and attending the clinical lectures of Désault, chief surgeon of the Hotel Dieu, with the view 
of returning to the United States, and devoting himself to the practice of medicine; but such was not 
his destiny! 
Neither the retired habits of a student, nor the easy and monotonous life of a Parisian abode suited 
temperaments like those of the two Michaux. Such men needed activity and change of scenes, even 
with toils and perils. Both were animated with the same spirit of enterprise, with the same convic- 
tion that their efforts, employed in other directions, could afford more benefit to their country; hence, 
they were endeavouring, through the influence of their numerous friends, to infuse their views and pro- 
jects into the minds of their fellow members of the Central Society of Agriculture, and of the minis- 
ters of Napoleon, then First Consul of the French Republic. 
In this they both succeeded finally. The elder Michaux accepted a commission of naturalist in the 
scientific expedition led by Captain Baudin, and bound to the Australian seas, on condition, however, 
that he would be permitted to remain af the Isle of France, if he desired so to do. Disgusted with 
Baudin’s haughty manners and want of courtesy to the scientific corps, André Michaux abandoned 
the expedition at Mauritius, where he remained six months, and thence started for the island of Ma- 
dagascar, which, he thought, would afford him better opportunities of advancing the science of Botany, 
and making himself more useful to his country. 
After sundry explorations along the coast, he established a botanical garden at Tametave, in which 
he planted all the trees and plants which might be objects of usefulness or curiosity. The climate, 
unfortunately, was exceedingly unhealthy, and trusting too much to his good constitution, and habits 
of exposure, he neglected the proper precautions, was taken sick with fever, and died at the end of 
December, 1803. 
Francois André Michaux, on his own account, had not remained inactive. Aroused by the example 
of his father, and now fully arrived at manhood, he could not look back to the unfinished work of his 
father in the United States, without becoming alive to the most ardent desire to achieve the object 
which they had both in view. Conversant with several States of the Union, confident in his own ex- 
perience and abilities further to serve his country, he was, on his side, earnestly soliciting a commission 
to the United States. ; 
This opportunity was at last afforded to him through the celebrated De Chaptal, then Minister of 
the Interior, who feeling dissatisfied with the result of the nurseries of New Jersey and Charleston, 
since the departure of the elder Michaux, and thinking more benefit would accrue from the appoint- 
ment of native correspondents in the principal seaports of the Union, consulted Francois A. Michaux 
in the matter, and appointed him to effect those objects. He gave him instructions, at the same time, 
to sell the properties, when he should have forwarded home all the trees and shrubs remaining in the 
two French nurseries above mentioned. 
Michaux, highly gratified, set out immediately for Bourdeaux, at which port he embarked for 
Charleston, with the same Captain, and on the same vessel that had brought him home thence, some ten 
years previous. After a short and pleasant passage, he landed at his place of destination, on the 
ninth of October, 1801. He occupied himself almost immediately, and during the following winter, in 
sending to France the trees and shrubs of the nursery, and this part of his instructions being fulfilled, 
he embarked for New York on the same errand. 
As soon as the season became favourable, he began his herborizations in New Jersey, and along the 
banks of North River. In these explorations, he discovered several new species of Oaks and Hicko- 
ries, the acorns and nuts of which he sent to France in abundance. He had also the opportunity of 
determining with more accuracy, the botanical characters of the Black Oak (quercus tinctoria,) one of 
the largest trees of the American forests, and, also, one of the most valuable for the good quality of 
its wood, as well as for its dyeing properties. 
