William Trelease
Encyclopedia
William Trelease was an American
botanist, entomologist, explorer, writer
and educator. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Trel. when citing
a botanical name
.
Trelease graduated B.S. from Cornell University
in 1880. He was instructor in botany at Harvard University
1880-81, instructor in botany at the University of Wisconsin 1881-83, and professor of botany there from 1883 to 1885. He was also special lecturer in botany at Johns Hopkins University
, and in charge of the summer school of botany at Harvard, during 1883-84. He was Engelmann professor of botany at Washington University in St. Louis
from 1885 to 1913, and appointed director of the Missouri Botanical Garden
from 1889 to 1912. He was active in a large number of municipal and professional academic associations: he was the first President of the Botanical Society of America
in 1894, and served as President for a second time in 1918. From 1913 to 1926 he was professor of botany and head of department at the University of Illinois.
Trelease was amongst the scientists on the two-month expedition to Alaska
led by Edward Henry Harriman in 1899. In 1932 he led a botanical expedition to the Canary Isles and Spain
, and in 1933 an expedition to New Zealand
.
Trelease wrote a large number of scientific articles and monographs. His work on the Piperaceae
of Northern South America
, left unfinished at his death, was completed by his student Truman G. Yuncker
. He also wrote several more popular botanical and gardening books, such as Plant materials of decorative gardening (1917) and Winter Botany (1918).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist, entomologist, explorer, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and educator. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Trel. when citing
Author citation (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, author citation refers to citing the person who validly published a botanical name, i.e. who first published the name while fulfilling the formal requirements as specified by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature...
a botanical name
Botanical name
A botanical name is a formal scientific name conforming to the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature and, if it concerns a plant cultigen, the additional cultivar and/or Group epithets must conform to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants...
.
Trelease graduated B.S. from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1880. He was instructor in botany at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
1880-81, instructor in botany at the University of Wisconsin 1881-83, and professor of botany there from 1883 to 1885. He was also special lecturer in botany at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and in charge of the summer school of botany at Harvard, during 1883-84. He was Engelmann professor of botany at Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
from 1885 to 1913, and appointed director of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden
The Missouri Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located in St. Louis, Missouri. It is also known informally as Shaw's Garden for founder Henry Shaw, a botanist and philanthropist.-History:...
from 1889 to 1912. He was active in a large number of municipal and professional academic associations: he was the first President of the Botanical Society of America
Botanical Society of America
The Botanical Society of America represents professional and amateur botanists, researchers, educators and students in over 80 countries of the world...
in 1894, and served as President for a second time in 1918. From 1913 to 1926 he was professor of botany and head of department at the University of Illinois.
Trelease was amongst the scientists on the two-month expedition to Alaska
Harriman Alaska Expedition
In 1899, wealthy railroad magnate Edward Harriman arranged for a maritime expedition to Alaska. Harriman brought with him an elite community of scientists, artists, photographers, and naturalists to explore and document the Alaskan coast...
led by Edward Henry Harriman in 1899. In 1932 he led a botanical expedition to the Canary Isles and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and in 1933 an expedition to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Trelease wrote a large number of scientific articles and monographs. His work on the Piperaceae
Piperaceae
The Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, is a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,610 currently accepted species in five genera. The vast majority of peppers can be found within the two main genera: Piper and Peperomia .Members of the Piperaceae may be small...
of Northern South America
Northern South America
Northern South America is a region in the continent South America. This region has a rich range of natural resources exploited by European explorers over the past couple of centuries. Most of the most populous cities, such as Bogotá, are located temperate conditions of the Andes...
, left unfinished at his death, was completed by his student Truman G. Yuncker
Truman G. Yuncker
Dr. Truman George Yuncker was a taxonomic botanist and was best known for his work in the Piperaceae field. Yuncker first taught at Manual High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. After service in World War I, he received his Doctorate from the University of Illinois in 1919...
. He also wrote several more popular botanical and gardening books, such as Plant materials of decorative gardening (1917) and Winter Botany (1918).
External links
- Louis Otto Kunkel, William Trelease, 1857-1945: A Biographical Memoir
- Guide to the William Trelease Papers, (ca. 1862-1945) held at Cornell UniversityCornell UniversityCornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
- Guide to the William Trelease Papers, 1868-1945 held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignThe University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
- Photographs of Trelease at the Missouri Botanical Garden