BESSEY, CHARLES EDWIN American botanist, was born at Milton, 0., on May 21, 1845. He gradu ated at Michigan Agricultural college (1869), and studied with Dr. Asa Gray at Harvard (1872–i3 and 1875-76). At Iowa Agri cultural college he was professor of botany (187o-84), and was acting president in 1882; at the University of Nebraska, professor of botany after 1884, acting chancellor (1888-89, 1899-190o and 1907), and head dean after 1909. He was one of the ablest in vestigators and teachers of botany of his time and a pioneer in introducing present laboratory methods of teaching biology. With the publication of Botany for High Schools and Colleges (188o), he introduced morphology to America. This book was the first in the series of "Bessey's text-books," which set a standard for mod ern work. The development of various interests of the State of Nebraska was the result of his generous public interest. He was a member of many national organizations, and was elected to almost every office to which an American botanist could aspire, culminating in the presidency of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.