John Morton (naturalist) facts for kids
John Morton (1671–1726) was an English priest and a keen observer of nature. He was also a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists. He wrote an important book called Natural History of Northamptonshire, which explored the plants, animals, and old things found in that area.
Life of a Naturalist
John Morton was born in 1671 in Scremby, a village in Lincolnshire, England. When he was 14, he started school at Oundle School in August 1686. Later, in 1688, he went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he earned his first degree in 1691. He continued his studies and received a master's degree in 1695.
In 1701, Morton became a curate (a type of priest) in Great Oxendon, a village in Northamptonshire. Just two years later, in 1703, he was chosen to be a fellow of the Royal Society, which was a big honor for a scientist. Around 1707, he became the main priest, or rector, of Great Oxendon.
Morton became good friends with Sir Hans Sloane, a famous doctor and collector, through letters they exchanged from 1703 to about 1716. He also met with Adam Buddle, a botanist (someone who studies plants), when he visited London.
John Morton passed away on July 18, 1726, at the age of 55. He was buried in Great Oxendon. Sir Hans Sloane paid for a special monument to be built there to remember him.
His Discoveries and Books
John Morton loved to study nature. In a letter from 1704, he wrote that meeting John Ray, another famous naturalist, made him want to search for and study plants. He also became very interested in fossil shells after reading books by Martin Lister. Morton wrote letters to other important naturalists like John Woodward and Edward Lhwyd, as well as his friend Sir Hans Sloane.
In 1706, one of Morton's letters was published in a scientific journal called Philosophical Transactions. This letter described river shells and plant remains found in a marshy area near Mears-Ashby in Northamptonshire. In his writings, Morton often shared the ideas of John Woodward about how events like Noah's Flood might have affected where fossils are found in the ground.
Morton's most famous book, The Natural History of Northamptonshire, with some account of the Antiquities, was published in 1712. A large part of this book focused on "figured fossils." These were rocks that looked like parts of living things, such as shells or bones, even though they were just stone. The book included many pictures of these interesting fossils. While the plant section of his book was highly praised, some historians felt that the parts about old historical records were not perfect.
Family Life
John Morton married Susanna Courtman, who was the daughter of John Courtman. They had a large family, including at least five sons and one daughter.
