p. 40   A Harvard professor says of Jefferson that"if he had been free from his national political life, he could have readily developed into one of the leading scientists of his time and country (2)." Another writer says, "His influence upon American science will continue to be felt during the centuries that are to come (3)." This is high tribute, but it at least indicated the remarkable versatility of the statesman-naturalist. As a naturalist, Jefferson was interested in practically every branch of science---botany, zoology, paleontology, meteorology, and any other of the so-called natural history sciences. Although his interest in science was of the practical sort, it was never superficial. In his "Notes on the State of Virginia," begun in 1781, he expressed a broad philosophic interpretation that distinguishes him from other writers on America of the time (4). Among his most noteworthy writings, this work touched all phases of natural history as well as the people and government of the region.   Jefferson had a wide acquaintance among the distinguished scientists of Europe and his own country. Among those in Europe was the famous Buffon, who paid a fine and unusual compliment to a politician when he said, "I should have counseled you, sir, before publishing my Natural History, and then I should have been sure of the facts (5)." Jefferson knew also the celebrated explorer and scientist, Alexander von Humboldt. When in this country in 1804, Humboldt was introduced to Jefferson by Caspar Wistar and Charles Wilson Peale (6). ____________________ 2. Harlow Shapley, "Notes on Thomas Jefferson as a Natural Philosopher," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia for Promoting Useful Knowledge, LXXXVII, No. 3 (July 14, 1943), 237. 3. C. A. Browne, "Thomas Jefferson and the Scientific Trends of his Time," Chronica Botanica, an International Collection of Studies in Method and History of Biology and Agriculture, VIII (Waltham, Massachusetts, 1944), 418. Among other writers on Jefferson as a scientist are Frederick A. Lucas, E. T. Martin, George T. Surface, Henry F. Osborn, Austin H. Clark, and Frederick N. Luther. 4. Ibid., 371-372. 5. Shapley, "Notes on Thomas Jefferson," Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, LXXXVII, 235. Jefferson had defended America, which, it was said, produced smaller and inferior specimens of natural history. 6. Wistar to Jefferson, May 29, 1804, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson (Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington), CXL.         Contents  Words  Study Questions  Related Sites  Next Page