West Bradford Township near West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Humphry Marshall
1722-1801
Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 14, 2012
1. Humphry Marshall Marker
Eminent Botanist, Author, Stone Mason, & Scientist and a Cousin to Philadelphia Botanist John Bartrum.
Marshallton was named in honor of Humphry Marshall, noted 18th century scientist and stone mason, whose botanical garden and home are adjacent to the Center House property. Humphry’s name appears on many of the tavern license petitions, and he may have had a hand in the tavern’s remarkable stonework. Humphry’s nephew Abraham Marshall III purchased the Center House from Joseph Martin in April, 1776, but did not run the tavern himself until 1786. Aside from Humphry’s local fame as a craftsman, he became known worldwide in 1785, when he published what is believed to be the first American essay on native trees and shrubs, Arbustum Americanum The American Grove. Humphry, like his cousin John Bartram, spent much of his life dedicated to the study, cataloging, and collection of North American plants.
Unlike his impact on this region, particularly his public service and interest in developing the Strasburg Road, Humphry’s contributions to science have often gone overlooked. Humphry Marshall continues, as he has in the past, to be a role model of citizenship and personal character for the people of Chester County.
[Caption:]
Humphry Marshall's residence, Marshallton, Chester County, PA, built 1773
Erected 2006 by Friends of Martins Tavern
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Environment • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine.
Location. 39° 56.989′ N, 75° 40.88′ W. Marker is near West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in West Bradford Township. Marker is at the intersection of Northbrook Road and West Strasburg Road (Pennsylvania Route 162) on Northbrook Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Northbrook Road, West Chester PA 19382, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Court of Quarter Sessions (here, next to this marker); Tavern Fare (here, next to this marker); Welcome to The Center House, or Martin's Tavern (here, next to this marker); Martin's Tavern and The Battle of Brandywine (here, next to this marker); The Home and Arboretum of Humphry Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Humphry Marshall (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marshallton Historic District (approx. 0.2 miles away); Marshalton Inn (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
Wikipedia - Public Domain
2. Humphry Marshall Home
Additional commentary.
1. Marshalls Legacy:
Humphry Marshall has often been called the "Father of American Dendrology". Dendrology is the science and study of wooded plants, trees, and shrubs.
A genus of plants, Marshallia, was named in honor of Humphry Marshall and his nephew Moses Marshall, who was also a botanist.
— Submitted July 21, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 21, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 674 times since then and 23 times this year. Last updated on March 25, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2013, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
