Collinson, PETER

Collinson, PETER, botanist, was born at Hugall Hall, near Windermere, 14th January 1694, and became a manufacturer of hosiery, having a large business with the American colonies. He was early distinguished as a naturalist, studied entomology and botany, and in 1745 communicated to Franklin his first intimation of the recent advance of electrical science in Europe. But it was as a botanist he was most distinguished. He introduced the culture of numerous European plants into the United States, and introduced American trees into England. He died 11th August 1768. A genus of labiate plants was named Collinsonia after him.