Gray, Asa

a distinguished American botanist, born at Paris, Oneida County, New York; graduated in medicine in 1842; became Fisher profe or of Natural History at Harvard, and in 1874 succeeded Aga iz as Regent of the Smithsonian Institution; his writings did much to promote the study of botany in America on a sound scientific basis, and also to forward the theories of Darwin; in conjunction with Dr. Torrey he wrote "The Flora of North America," and by himself various manuals of botany and "Natural Science and Religion" (1810-1888).