John Eatton Le Conte
| John Eatton Le Conte | |
|---|---|
The portrait of John Eatton Le Conte that was taken in 1860, the year of his death
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| Born |
February 22, 1784 Shrewsbury, New Jersey |
| Died | November 21, 1860 (aged 76) |
| Residence | USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Fields | |
| Institutions |
Linnean Society of London New York Academy of Sciences Academy of Natural Sciences |
| Alma mater | Columbia College of Columbia University |
John Eatton Le Conte, Jr. (sometimes John Eatton LeConte or John Eaton Leconte) (February 22, 1784 – November 21, 1860) was an American naturalist. He was born near Shrewsbury, New Jersey, the son of John Eatton Le Conte and Jane Sloane Le Conte. He graduated from Columbia College, where he showed an interest in science and was taught natural history by David Hosack, founder of Elgin Botanical Garden.
John Le Conte's older brother Louis inherited the family plantation, Woodmanston, near Midway in Georgia. Although John Le Conte usually lived in New York or New England, he spent his winters at Woodmanston. He suffered from rheumatism, and possibly other ailments, for most of his adult life.
In April 1818 Le Conte was appointed captain in the United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers. His early assignments included surveying the vicinity of Norfolk, Virginia, the harbor at Savannah, Georgia and Ossabaw Sound, Georgia. LeConte was promoted to brevet major in April 1828, and resigned his commission in August 1831.
Early in 1821 John Le Conte approached Secretary of War John C. Calhoun to propose an exploration expedition to the newly acquired territory of Florida. Later in the year he again contacted Secretary Calhoun, noting that he was assigned to survey the harbor at Savannah that winter, and proposing that he undertake an expedition to Florida while in Georgia for the winter. He requested $970 for the expedition, including the cost of hiring a sloop and crew for one month. The War Department provided him with $600. In early 1822 he proceeded to Fernandina, Florida, carrying an order issued by Major General Winfield Scott that the commanding officer at Amelia Island provide eight men and a non-commissioned officer to accompany Le Conte on his expedition. A Lieutenant Edwin R. Alberti also joined Le Conte's expedition.
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