BRIEFER ARTICLES 
EDWARD PALMER 
(WITH PORTRAIT) 
Dr. EpDwArp PALMER died at his home in Washington, D.C., April 
10, 1911, after an illness of a few days. He was an exceptional explorer 
and collector, who in the field of botany alone is distinguished as the 
discoverer of 1,162 new species of flowering plants, with many more of 
his last collecting still remaining to be described. At least 200 plants 
discovered by him bear his 
name, and will continue as 
witnesses to his wonderful 
activity. 
He was the son of a pro- 
fessional florist and_horticul- 
turist, of Hockwold cum 
Wilton, in the county of 
Norfolk, England, where he 
was born January 12, 1831. 
Coming to this country at 
the age of 18 he settled at 
Cleveland, Ohio, where he 
formed the acquaintance of 
Dr, JARED KirTLAND, one of 
the most eminent scien- 
tists of his day, and one of 
the earliest members of the 
American Academy of Science. 
From him he learned the art of collecting and preserving objects of 
natural history, thus laying the foundation of his future career, and 
through Krrtianp’s influence he was in 1853 appointed naturalist of 
the “Water Witch,” on her celebrated expedition to Paraguay, which 
led to our war with that country. 
After his return to the United States, he was appointed collector 
in the Geological Survey of California, paying especial attention to the 
marine invertebrates of the California coast. In 1862, when President 
Lincoln called for extra troops, he offered his services to his country, and 
61] [Botanical Gazette, vol. 52 
