Patriot-Improvers: Biographical Sketches of Members of the American Philosophical Society 1743-1768 (Memoir 226) (Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society)

When Benjamin Franklin adopted John Bartram's 1739 idea of bringing together the "virtuosi" of the colonies to promote inquiries into "natural secrets, arts & syances," the result was, in 1743, the founding of the American Philosophical Society. Bell records the early years of the Society through sketches of its first members, those elected between 1743 & 1769. This volume includes biographies of some of the Society's best known members such as Franklin, David Rittenhouse, John Bartram, Benjamin Rush, John Dickinson, Thomas Hopkinson & many lesser known merchants, artisans, farmers, physicians, lawyers & clergymen with familiar surnames such as Biddle, Colden, & Morris. Illustrations.