AD'ANSON, .MteuEL, a celebrated French botanist, b. at Aix, April 7, 1727. He soon left the clerical profession, for which lie was educated, and devoted himself to the study of natural history. In his early career he entertained the ambition of superseding the Linmean system by a clearer and more comprehensive method of arrangement. Mien about twenty-one years old he went to Senegal in Africa, and, fearless of the unwhole some climate, stayed there five years, afterwards returning to France with a large collection of specimens in natural history. Soon after his return, he laid before the French East India company his plan of a colony on the African coast, in which all colo nial produce was to be raised without slave-labor. But his plan was He published, in 1757, his Histoire iYaturelle du Senegal, and, in 1763, his Families des Plantes, in which he endeavored to give a new form to botany: but he could not pre vail against the established Linntean system. Ills next undertaking was one on a vast
scale—nothing less than a complete encyclopedia, for which he hoped to pin the pat ronage of Louis XV. and the academy; but though his bold plan was regarded with ad miration, he received little substantial encouragement. -This, however, did not check his enthusiasm; lie proceeded with the work until he exhausted his means. During the revolution he fell into very indigent circumstances. When invited to become a mem ber of the national institute, he answered that he • was unable to attend for want of a pair of shoes. Afterwards lie received a pension, and until the time of his death. Aug. 3, 1806, lie was earnestly devoted to the prosecution of his plan, too vast to be carried out by an individual.