Moses Ashley Curtis
Encyclopedia
Moses Ashley Curtis was a noted American botanist.
Curtis was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
and educated at Williams College
in Massachusetts. After graduating, he became a tutor for the children of former Governor Edward Bishop Dudley
in Wilmington, North Carolina
, returning to Massachusetts in 1833 to study theology
. He married Mary de Rosset in 1834, was ordained in 1835 and obtained a post to teach at the Episcopal school at Raleigh, North Carolina
. He became rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Hillsborough, North Carolina
in 1841 and in charge of a parish at Society Hill, South Carolina
in 1847 before returning to the Protestant Episcopal Church at Hillsborough in 1857. He died in Hillsborough, North Carolina
in 1872.
As a botanist, Curtis explored the southern Appalachian Mountains
, embarking on a major expedition in 1839. He maintained a herbarium of dried specimens and contributed specimens to John Torrey and Asa Gray
. He collected lichens for Edward Tuckerman
and corresponded with many other botantists, including Miles Joseph Berkeley
to whom he sent many specimens with descriptions and notes. Gray said of him that “No living botanist ... is so well acquainted with the vegetation of the southern Allegheny Mountains ...” and that he “... was among the first to retrace the steps and rediscover the plants found and published by the elder Michaux
, in the higher Alleghany Mountains.” For the last twenty-five years of his life, he studied and became an authority on mycology.
Curtis was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,947 at the 2010 census...
and educated at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in Massachusetts. After graduating, he became a tutor for the children of former Governor Edward Bishop Dudley
Edward Bishop Dudley
Edward Bishop Dudley was the 28th Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina from 1836 to 1841. He served in the United States House of Representatives as a Jacksonian from 1829 to 1831.-Early life:...
in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, returning to Massachusetts in 1833 to study theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. He married Mary de Rosset in 1834, was ordained in 1835 and obtained a post to teach at the Episcopal school at Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. He became rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
in 1841 and in charge of a parish at Society Hill, South Carolina
Society Hill, South Carolina
Society Hill is a town in Darlington County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 700 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Florence Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1847 before returning to the Protestant Episcopal Church at Hillsborough in 1857. He died in Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillsborough is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,653 at the 2008 census. It is the county seat of Orange County....
in 1872.
As a botanist, Curtis explored the southern Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
, embarking on a major expedition in 1839. He maintained a herbarium of dried specimens and contributed specimens to John Torrey and Asa Gray
Asa Gray
-References:*Asa Gray. Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936.*Asa Gray. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.*Asa Gray. Plant Sciences. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001....
. He collected lichens for Edward Tuckerman
Edward Tuckerman
Edward Tuckerman was an American botanist and professor who made significant contributions to the study of lichens and other alpine plants. He was a founding member of the Natural History Society of Boston and most of his career was spent at Amherst College...
and corresponded with many other botantists, including Miles Joseph Berkeley
Miles Joseph Berkeley
Miles Joseph Berkeley was an English cryptogamist and clergyman, and one of the founders of the science of plant pathology....
to whom he sent many specimens with descriptions and notes. Gray said of him that “No living botanist ... is so well acquainted with the vegetation of the southern Allegheny Mountains ...” and that he “... was among the first to retrace the steps and rediscover the plants found and published by the elder Michaux
André Michaux
André Michaux was a French botanist and explorer.-Biography:Michaux was born in Satory, now part of Versailles, Yvelines. After the death of his wife within a year of their marriage he took up the study of botany and was a student of Bernard de Jussieu...
, in the higher Alleghany Mountains.” For the last twenty-five years of his life, he studied and became an authority on mycology.