John Donnell Smith facts for kids
John Donnell Smith (born June 5, 1829 – died December 2, 1928) was an important American biologist who studied and classified plants. He was also a captain in the Confederate army during the American Civil War. Smith was from Baltimore, Maryland.
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Early Life and Education
John Donnell Smith went to Yale University and graduated in 1847. After his studies, he developed a deep interest in plants.
A Life Dedicated to Plants
Smith became a well-known biologist and taxonomist. A taxonomist is a scientist who identifies, names, and classifies living things. He spent many years researching and collecting plants.
In January 1906, he gave his huge collection of plants to the Smithsonian Institution. This collection, called a herbarium, had more than 100,000 dried and preserved plant samples. He also donated his large library of over 1,600 books about plants. These books mainly focused on plants from Mexico and Central America. Today, his plant collection is part of the U.S. National Herbarium.
Service During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, John Donnell Smith served as a Captain in the Confederate Army. He was the commander of Battery A, which was part of the 10th Battalion of Virginia Artillery. This group was also known as the Bedford Light Artillery.
He took part in many important battles and campaigns with the Army of Northern Virginia. He was seriously injured during the Battle of Gettysburg. Captain Smith was also present when the Confederate army surrendered at Appomattox in April 1865.
Later Years
John Donnell Smith lived to be 99 years old. In his final years, he was celebrated as the oldest living graduate of Yale University. He also served as a trustee for the Peabody Institute in Baltimore from 1888 to 1915.
