Benjamin Smith Barton
1766 – 1815

Benjamin Smith Barton

American physician, professor, and botanist (1766-1815)

botanistbotanical collectoruniversity teacherzoologistphysician
Born
1766-02-10, Lancaster
Died
1815-12-19
Birthplace state
Pennsylvania

Biography

Benjamin Smith Barton was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1766 and died in 1815. He worked as a botanist, zoologist, physician, and botanical collector. He served as one of the first professors of natural history in the United States and assembled the largest collection of botanical specimens in the country at that time. He wrote the first American textbook on botany.

Occupation

Benjamin Smith Barton is recorded as a botanist, a botanical collector, a university teacher, a zoologist and a physician, born in Pennsylvania (1766–1815).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Benjamin Smith Barton was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1766. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Pennsylvania›Pennsylvaniahistory ›Historic sites in Pennsylvania›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Lancaster

Benjamin Smith Barton came from Lancaster. A full Aubrey report on Lancaster pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Lancaster report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Pennsylvania

Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

Joe Biden
Joe Biden
46th President of the United States (2021–2025)
Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
American linguist and activist (born 1928)
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
American artist, film director, and producer (1928–1987)
James Buchanan
James Buchanan
president of the United States from 1857 to 1861
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
American actress and Princess consort of Monaco (1929–1982)
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
American basketball player (1978–2020)
Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott
American novelist (1832–1888)

Frequently asked about Benjamin Smith Barton

Who was Benjamin Smith Barton?
Benjamin Smith Barton was American physician, professor, and botanist (1766-1815), born in Pennsylvania (1766 – 1815).
When and where was Benjamin Smith Barton born?
Benjamin Smith Barton was born on 1766-02-10 in Lancaster.
When did Benjamin Smith Barton die?
Benjamin died on 1815-12-19.
What was Benjamin Smith Barton known for?
Benjamin Smith Barton is recorded as a botanist, a botanical collector, a university teacher, a zoologist and a physician.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report