GRAY, Ate, an eminent American botanist, h. at Paris, Oneida co., N. Y., Nov. 18,. 1810. He took his degree of m.D. in 1831, but soon relinquishing the practice of medi cine, he devoted himself, under prof. Torrey, to his favorite study of botany. In 1834 he received the appointment of botanist of the United States' exploring expedition; but as a long delay took place before it was ready to sail, he resigned his post in 1837. He was afterwards appointed prof. of botany in the university of Michigan ; but before he had entered upon the duties of that office he was elected, in 1842, Fisher prof. of natural history at. IlarVerd tipiersVy, Cambridge, MaSs. In addition to his.prele•tions at Cam bridge, prof. Gray has delivered sonic courses of lectures at the Lowell institute, in Boa ton. He ranks among the leading botanists, not only of America, but of the age. In his numerous writings he has shown equal ability in communicating elementary knowl sedge and in elucidating recondite theories. He came forward at a time when the old artificial systems of botany were giving hay to the natural system which has taken their place, and he was the first in America, in conjunction with Dr. Torrey, who
.arranged the heterogeneous assemblage of species upon the natural basis of affinity. In 1836 he published his Elements of Botany, afterwards enlarged into the Botanical Text book; and in 1838 he commenced, with Dr. Torrey, the Flora of North America, to be completed in three large volumes, but still unfinished. In 1848, appeared the Manual .of Botany for the _Northern United States, and the first volume of the Genera Borealia Americana Illustrata, of which another volume has since been issued. Among his remaining works may be mentioned: Botany of the United States' Pacific Exploring Expe dition, under Captain Wilkie (1854-58); How Plants Grow; Lessons in Botany; Structural ,and Systematic Botany; a revised edition of the Botanical Text-book, with 1300 illustra tions; Flora of the Southern United States; School and Field Book of Botany (1869); and Botany for Young People (1869). Prof. Gray has also contributed many papers to .scientific periodichls and the transactions of learned societies.