Frank Nicholas Meyer
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| Frank Nicholas Meyer | |
 Frank N Meyer circa 1909
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| Born | Frans Nicholaas Meijer 1875 Amsterdam |
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| Died | 1918 near Shanghai |
Frank Nicholas Meyer (1875-1918) was an United States Department of Agriculture explorer who traveled to Asia to collect new plant species. He introduced 2,500 plants into the United States. The Meyer lemon was named in his honor.[1]
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[edit] Biography
He was born as Frans Nicholaas Meijer in Amsterdam in 1875. He emigrated to the United States in 1901. Meyer was hired in 1905 by the United States Department of Agriculture in their Office of Seed and Plant Introduction. Through an arrangement between Charles Sprague Sargent, the Director of the Arboretum and David Fairchild, Chairman of the USDA Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, Meyer was to send to the Arnold Arboretum trees and shrubs of ornamental value along with the images he collected of his travels.[2] Meyer died near Shanghai in 1918.[1]
[edit] Legacy
In recognition of his industry, the Frank N. Meyer Medal for Plant Genetic Resources was struck by his USDA colleagues, funded by his bequest to the organization [3]
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b "The Meyer Lemon: More Than A Pretty Face". National Public Radio. 18 February 2009. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100778147&ft=1&f=1053. Retrieved on 2009-02-20. "For more than a century, the Meyer lemon was known mostly for its looks. In its native China, it was primarily a decorative houseplant. ... The Meyer lemon might still be decorating homes today if it weren't for one man. In the early 1900s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent Frank N. Meyer, an agricultural explorer (yes, that was his actual job title) on several trips to Asia with the mission of collecting new plant species. Among more than 2,500 plants that he introduced to the U.S., the Meyer lemon was named in his honor. Sadly, Meyer would never live to see the success of his namesake. He died on an expedition near Shanghai in 1918."
- ^ "Botanical and Cultural Images of Eastern Asia, 1907-1927". Harvard University. http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/programs/eastern_asia/explorers_meyer.html. Retrieved on 2009-02-20. "Frank Meyer, born Frans Meijer in Amsterdam, began his horticultural career at age 14 working as a gardener's helper at the Amsterdam Botanical Garden. ... At age 22, Meyer set out for America by way of England and arrived in the United States in late 1901. ... After a year with the USDA, Meyer went to Mexico to study and collect plants. Upon Meyer's return in 1904, David Fairchild (1869-1954), Chairman of the Foreign Plant Introduction Section of the USDA, hired Meyer to make a collecting trip to China for the department. ..."
- ^ Explorers: Frank Nicholas Meyer Botanical and Cultural Images, 1907-1927.
- ^ Brummitt RK; Powell CE. (1992). Authors of Plant Names. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-085-4.
