Marty ft, 207 
John Martyn was born in the city of 
Lofidoriy Sept. 12, 1699, and was defigned 
by his father for the profeffion of a mer- 
chant ; but his early and ftrong propenfity 
to learning and fcience, in the end over-ruled 
that defign. He had from his youth an 
attachment to botany ^ and this taile v/as 
further excited by his acquaintance with 
Mr. WiLMER, afterwards demonftrator at 
Chelfea Garden ; and confirmed by an inti^ 
macy with, and the countenance of. Dr. 
Sherard, in the year 171 9. In the year 
1720, he tranflated from the French ^ Dr. 
Tournefort's Hiftory of the Plants 
growing about Paris and having pro- 
jeded a like catalogue of the plants about 
London^ he coile£led, v/ith unwearied dili- 
gence, the native plants of the environs ; 
making for this purpofe fometimes very ex- 
teniive excurfions, and almoft ever on fee!.: 
He had once conceived a fcheme for form- 
ing a method from the Seed-leaves^ and had 
fown a great number of feeds in order to 
obferve the difference between them. Pie 
early became acquainted with Dillenius, 
and co-operated with him in forming a fo- 
ciety 
