William Marbury Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Dr. William Marbury Carpenter, a noted Southern natural scientist, was born on June 25, 1811 in Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
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(Class of 1833), but resigned his military appointment due to ill health. He then studied medicine at the University of Louisiana Medical College, graduating an M.D. in 1836.
, and continued to pursue an interest in the natural sciences. In 1838, he published a study of a submerged forest he discovered near Port Hudson, in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
. In 1842, he was a professor of "materia medica" at the University of Louisiana, where he was appointed dean in 1845. In 1844, he published a study on the habit of "dirt eating" among Negro slaves, and he published several other significant studies. He was a leading proponent of research into disease transportability and transmission as related to importation of disease and outbreak of epidemics. He joined the faculty of the Medical College of Louisiana as Professor of Botany and Geology, and from 1845-1846 he was Dean of the Tulane University
School of Medicine. From 1846 through 1848, he was editor of the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal. In early 1846, he met Sir Charles Lyell, who said of him: "His knowledge of botany and geology, as well as his amiable manners, made him a most useful and agreeable companion". His botanical collections were published posthumously and several plants were named in his honor, including the rare flowering California Bush Anemone, Carpenteria californica, which was "named in honour of Professor William M. Carpenter (1811-48), a physician from Louisiana, by its discoverer, Major General John Charles Fremont, who collected it on one of his four perilous journeys of exploration in the extreme west of the United States between 1842 and 1848". Carpenter's Groundcherry (Physalis carpenteri Riddell, 1853 ex Rydberg), a plant in the nightshade family indigenous to Louisiana, and Carpenter's Oak
, Quercus carpenteri Riddell, 1853, also indigenous to Louisiana, were named in his honor by fellow naturalist
John Leonard Riddell
.
. He married first on November 21, 1837 in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
to Matilda King, who was born in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
in 1818 and died in 1848, eldest child of Valentine and Nancy (King) King, and second to Eliza King, who was born in 1826 and died in 1863, sister of Matilda. By his first wife, Dr. Carpenter had four children.
Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
Feliciana Parish is a former parish of Louisiana, formed in 1810 from West Florida territory. It was divided in 1824 into East Feliciana Parish and West Feliciana Parish. Feliciana is a Spanish word meaning Happy Land. It originated in 1775 and was named by Spanish Governor Galvez...
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Education
He was educated through private tutoring and attended the U.S. Military Academy, in West Point, New YorkWest Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
(Class of 1833), but resigned his military appointment due to ill health. He then studied medicine at the University of Louisiana Medical College, graduating an M.D. in 1836.
Physician and Naturalist
He went into medical practice at Jackson, West Feliciana Parish, LouisianaWest Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,111 people, 3,645 households, and 2,704 families residing in the parish. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 4,485 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
, and continued to pursue an interest in the natural sciences. In 1838, he published a study of a submerged forest he discovered near Port Hudson, in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Baton Rouge, Louisiana's state capital. As of the 2010 census, the population was 440,171. The parish has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It is the most populous parish in the state...
. In 1842, he was a professor of "materia medica" at the University of Louisiana, where he was appointed dean in 1845. In 1844, he published a study on the habit of "dirt eating" among Negro slaves, and he published several other significant studies. He was a leading proponent of research into disease transportability and transmission as related to importation of disease and outbreak of epidemics. He joined the faculty of the Medical College of Louisiana as Professor of Botany and Geology, and from 1845-1846 he was Dean of the Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
School of Medicine. From 1846 through 1848, he was editor of the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal. In early 1846, he met Sir Charles Lyell, who said of him: "His knowledge of botany and geology, as well as his amiable manners, made him a most useful and agreeable companion". His botanical collections were published posthumously and several plants were named in his honor, including the rare flowering California Bush Anemone, Carpenteria californica, which was "named in honour of Professor William M. Carpenter (1811-48), a physician from Louisiana, by its discoverer, Major General John Charles Fremont, who collected it on one of his four perilous journeys of exploration in the extreme west of the United States between 1842 and 1848". Carpenter's Groundcherry (Physalis carpenteri Riddell, 1853 ex Rydberg), a plant in the nightshade family indigenous to Louisiana, and Carpenter's Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, Quercus carpenteri Riddell, 1853, also indigenous to Louisiana, were named in his honor by fellow naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
John Leonard Riddell
John Leonard Riddell
John Leonard Riddell was a science lecturer, botanist, geologist, medical doctor, chemist, microscopist, numismatician, politician, and science fiction author in the United States. He was born in Leyden, Massachusetts, the son of John Riddell and Lephe Gates. He received his B.A. and M.A...
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Personal
William Marbury Carpenter was descended from the New England Rehoboth Carpenter familyRehoboth Carpenter Family
The Rehoboth Carpenter family is an American family that helped settle the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts in 1644.The first immigrant and founder of this line was William Carpenter The Rehoboth Carpenter family is an American family that helped settle the town of Rehoboth, Massachusetts in...
. He married first on November 21, 1837 in East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
East Feliciana Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Clinton. In 2000, the population was 21,360.East Feliciana Parish is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Baton Rouge–Pierre Part Combined Statistical...
to Matilda King, who was born in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
St. Landry Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is at the heart of Acadian/Cajun culture and heritage in Louisiana. The parish seat is Opelousas. According to the 2010 census, the population of St. Landry Parish is 83,384.St...
in 1818 and died in 1848, eldest child of Valentine and Nancy (King) King, and second to Eliza King, who was born in 1826 and died in 1863, sister of Matilda. By his first wife, Dr. Carpenter had four children.