Josiah Gregg
- Not related to John Gregg, Confederate general and namesake of Gregg County, Texas
Josiah Gregg (19 July 1806 – 25 February 1850) was a merchant, explorer, naturalist, and author of the American Southwest and Northern Mexico regions. He is most famous for his book Commerce of the Prairies.[1]
Early years
Josiah Gregg was born on 19 July 1806 in Overton County, Tennessee. When he was six years old, his family moved to Missouri. Gregg was educated in both law and medicine and practiced both with distinction before tuberculosis forced him to retire from urban life.
In 1831 he joined a caravan for Santa Fe, New Mexico, on a new trail beginning at Van Buren, Arkansas.[2] Gregg then settled in New Mexico Territory, starting work as a bookkeeper. He made a tour of Indian Territories - Oklahoma Territory.
Commerce of the Prairies
Josiah Gregg's book, "Commerce of the Prairies," which came out in two volumes in 1844 was an account of his time spent as a trader on the Santa Fe Trail from 1831 to 1840 . He describes the geography, botany, geology, and culture of New Mexico. Gregg wrote of some locals, such as Maria Gertrudis Barceló, a Santa-Fe saloon owner. The book established Gregg's literary reputation, and he was hired as a news correspondent and interpreter during the Mexican-American War. In this capacity, he traveled through Chihuahua.
By the early 1840s, Gregg was living in Shreveport, Louisiana.[3]
Plant collector
Gregg corresponded with George Engelmann in St. Louis, Missouri, sending him collections of plants, many of which were previously undescribed. Several Southwestern plants bear the species patronym "greggii" to honor Gregg's contributions.[4]
Gold Rush - Humboldt Bay
After the war, in 1849 Gregg participated in the California Gold Rush. He died from starvation and exposure, 25 February 1850, while leading an emergency winter expedition out of a snow bound mining camp. The expedition has been credited with the rediscovery of Humboldt Bay, that resulted in its settlement.[4]
References
- ^ Gregg, J. 1844. Commerce of the Prairies. New York: Henry G. Langley, Two volumes, 320 pp. and 318 pp.
- ^ "Josiah Gregg". Retrieved 12 April 2010.
- ^ Thomas F. Ruffin, "Josiah Gregg and Shreveport during the 1840s," North Louisiana History, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Summer 1973), pp. 141-148
- ^ a b Anderson, H. A. "Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "Gregg, Josiah,". Retrieved February 7, 2009.
External links
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- People of the American Old West
- New Mexico Territory
- Explorers of North America
- American explorers
- American naturalists
- American lawyers
- American physicians
- American travel writers
- Plant collectors
- War correspondents
- Pre-state history of New Mexico
- People from Humboldt County, California
- People from Shreveport, Louisiana
- 1806 births
- 1850 deaths
- American merchants
- People of the California Gold Rush
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