Important American Naturalists : William Bartram aka Puc Puggy

“There is a strange white man in the forest, father.” The year was 1773. Of course, the young Creek Indian boy did not know this, nor would he care for that matter, but the man he saw wandering through the woods did. “You saw Puc Puggy, my son, he is a strange and wonderful man.”

The boy’s father knew the white man from tribal councils in which the “flower hunter,” or “Puc Puggy” in their language, was present. He was a strange but friendly young man who had the permission of the chief to wander the land.

It is really a wonderful thing everyone is different. We all have likes and dislikes, so we have people who do things others would never dream of trying. But there are also those of us who live in envy of wonderful people who had the chance to do things no one else had. The name William Bartram may not ring a bell for many people this day and time, but his life has affected many of us, even if we aren’t aware of it.

Born in 1739 and following in his father’s footsteps, William developed a love for both botany and zoology.  He also had a remarkable talent for drawing the plants and animals he encountered while exploring with his father.  His father, John, was a self taught naturalist who introduced his son to the field at an early age.  

William eventually acquired degrees in the field and accompanied his father on an expedition up the St. Johns river in Florida.  John had received a commission from King George through his Royal Botanist to report on the plants and wildlife along this formerly Spanish held tributary. 

It was this trip which changed William’s life.  The many wonderful new species of plants and animals encountered by William and John Bartram thrilled the English benefactors and made John’s reputation.

William’s beautiful drawings also attracted the attention of  John Fothergill, a famous English botanist.  After trying his had at earning a living by ordinary means, and not very successfully, William convinced Fothergill to finance a botanical exploratory expedition to the southeast. 

He spent four years tramping through the new colonies and examining everything around him, including the native people he encountered along the way.  After much wandering through the exotic, and sometimes, dangerous, colonial territories, he returned to Philadelphia in 1777.

It wasn’t until 1791 that he finished compiling his list of specimens and adventures into a book titled Travels.  This book had a profound effect on the English scientific and literary circles.  William’s quaker background seemed to shine through in his narration of the trek, especially when he discovered a place of unusual beauty and serenity.  He seldom forgot to praise his maker for creating such marvelous natural landscapes.

Besides thrilling the scientific world, his writings had a strong effect on the romantic writers of the day.  Many of these writers, including such notables as Coleridge and Wordsworth, drew from his experiences, using descriptions and scenes from his travels to embellish their own writings.  Unknowingly, he accomplished much more than he set out to do.

He continued his studies receiving many famous visitors including Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, George Washington, and many, many, up and coming, and soon to be famous, men of science.  William helped anyone who needed his assistance and knowledge, gaining the respect of some of America’s finest naturalists and scientists. 

He never married, preferring a life of solitude and working in his father’s former gardens.  His brother inherited John’s nursery and gave William a lifetime job helping him run the business.  His visitors were many and of notable background. 

William Bartram was a special person in that he was not what you would think of as an intrepid sort. He was frightened many times by fierce Indians threatening his life or boat rides being harassed by a multitude of voracious alligators.

But he spent many nights alone under a tree with only himself as a companion. His wonderful choice of words often recalls his wonder and fear of the task he had set for himself. Having successfully competed something he longed for, he seemed satisfied with his life and deeds, something he well deserved.

But many of the plants and animals he found and described were given the names of other naturalists who hired him to gain the information of the regions. Otherwise the American botanical listings would be filled with many plants and animals with Bartram as the botanical classification name attached to them.

There are those of us who live in envy of William Bartram. To be able to explore unknown lands, see strange and exotic plants and creatures, to enjoy the solitude of nature and beauty, to feel happy and fortunate in the endeavor, what more could one ask for? I live in envy of Puc Puggy!

Download William Bartram's Travels free through the University of North Carolina Library.