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American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic
American Eden: David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic | Victoria Johnson
13 posts | 6 read | 1 reading | 5 to read
The untold story of Hamilton’s—and Burr’s—personal physician, whose dream to build America’s first botanical garden inspired the young Republic. On a clear morning in July 1804, Alexander Hamilton stepped onto a boat at the edge of the Hudson River. He was bound for a New Jersey dueling ground to settle his bitter dispute with Aaron Burr. Hamilton took just two men with him: his “second” for the duel, and Dr. David Hosack. As historian Victoria Johnson reveals in her groundbreaking biography, Hosack was one of the few points the duelists did agree on. Summoned that morning because of his role as the beloved Hamilton family doctor, he was also a close friend of Burr. A brilliant surgeon and a world-class botanist, Hosack—who until now has been lost in the fog of history—was a pioneering thinker who shaped a young nation. Born in New York City, he was educated in Europe and returned to America inspired by his newfound knowledge. He assembled a plant collection so spectacular and diverse that it amazes botanists today, conducted some of the first pharmaceutical research in the United States, and introduced new surgeries to American. His tireless work championing public health and science earned him national fame and praise from the likes of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander von Humboldt, and the Marquis de Lafayette. One goal drove Hosack above all others: to build the Republic’s first botanical garden. Despite innumerable obstacles and near-constant resistance, Hosack triumphed when, by 1810, his Elgin Botanic Garden at last crowned twenty acres of Manhattan farmland. “Where others saw real estate and power, Hosack saw the landscape as a pharmacopoeia able to bring medicine into the modern age” (Eric W. Sanderson, author of Mannahatta). Today what remains of America’s first botanical garden lies in the heart of midtown, buried beneath Rockefeller Center. Whether collecting specimens along the banks of the Hudson River, lecturing before a class of rapt medical students, or breaking the fever of a young Philip Hamilton, David Hosack was an American visionary who has been too long forgotten. Alongside other towering figures of the post-Revolutionary generation, he took the reins of a nation. In unearthing the dramatic story of his life, Johnson offers a lush depiction of the man who gave a new voice to the powers and perils of nature.
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Pickpick

Gorgeous cover.
I had never heard of this man before this book and found his life fascinating. I appreciate that Johnson gave a nod to the Native and Enslaved people but as with most books about this time I thought there could have been more information there.
I am always shocked at the amount of death that happened in these days. 3 marriages, many children, Hosack lost many people and much money in his life but his life was full and interesting

ChaoticMissAdventures I forget!! This was my #bookspin for February my first finished of the year. @TheAromaofBooks 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
17 likes2 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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What a situation. What would you do if you were your friend's physician and they decided to duel? And the person they are dueling was another of your good friends? Hosack had tended to Hamilton's son after his duel three yrs earlier.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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The first U.S. botanical garden was the pet project of Dr. Hosack. I had never heard of this man but boy was he well connected. He counted both Hamilton & Burr as his closest friends, & was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson.
He spent about million $ in today's $ to start the garden & once established sold it to the government so it could be maintained & opened to the public - of course not everything goes well once the government gets involved.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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The first public botanical gardens in the US no longer exists but this book - mostly about the creator of the garden is very interesting.

18 likes1 stack add
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ChaoticMissAdventures
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I am listening to my #bookspin book this month because I didn't own a physical copy. The description of things that are no longer in NY has me googling a lot which I love in a nonfiction.
This is the Elgin Botanical gardens the first garden partially funded by the US.

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ChaoticMissAdventures
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Of course the #bookspin was the only one on my list I didn't have a physical copy of 😂😂
Super lucky it was ready to go at the library. Will listen to it to start.

Red Sister is my #doublespin

Thanks @TheAromaofBooks for all your efforts to help us get that books off our TBR!!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
18 likes1 comment
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trigeekgirl
Pickpick

This was a great blend of American history, medicine, and botany, which is pretty much my catnip. The sources are exhaustive and there are many useful illustrations scattered throughout the book. Recommended for anyone who likes the three topics above.

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SamAnne
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In DC for work. Did two year stints working here and always loved this bookstore. Had to buy 3 books which awarded me a 25 dollar gift certificate for books or bar. No more room for books in luggage so spent it at the bar!

Crazeedi Looks like a great book store! 5y
TheNerdyProfessor I love this bookstore! 5y
sarahbarnes I loved this bookstore when I visited! 5y
64 likes3 comments
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8little_paws
Mehso-so

Interesting bio of Dr. Hosack and his goal of establishing a botanic garden in new york. Definitely an interesting lens through which to view early american history, however, it did feel unfocused at times and also some of the material was a bit dry. Worth a borrow from the library, though.

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Jennie748
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Pickpick

It feels like all of my non-fiction library holds came in at once. Not that I‘m complaining! I LOVED American Eden! The writing was wonderful and the subject was captivating. The bottom two books were less engrossing than I‘d hoped.

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Jennie748
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Just starting this, but already I‘m enjoying it!

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Redwritinghood
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Mehso-so

I found the audiobook for this National Book Award non-fiction title on #Hoopla. David Hosack was an important scientist and physician in the early days of the country. He fought tirelessly to establish a botanical garden for medicinal and other scientific purposes in NYC. While very well-researched and well-written, the book is a little unfocused and often goes off on side jaunts into other historical figures of the time period (Hamilton, Burr).

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PlantyLibrarian
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Pickpick

Did you know America‘s first botanical garden is now where the heart of NYC stands? This incredible biography looks at David Hosack - doctor, botanist, and friend to many. From his own drive and love for plants, he built what he thought would be the garden to teach America the power and beauty of the natural world. A nonpartisan witness to the infamous Burr/Hamilton duel, this man believed in America, believed in its mind and its heart.