Biographical Sketch of Dr. William DARLINGTON, LL. D. (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, page 207. "DR. WILLIAM DARLINGTON, LL. D., whose name is known and respected throughout the botanical world, was the eldest child of Edward and Hannah (Townsend) Darlington, and was born near Dilworthtown, Birmingham township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, April 28, 1782. He was the first medical student to graduate from the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania. He always resided in his native county, and while practicing his profession to some extent, yet gave his time chiefly to botanical research. In 1826, he published his 'Cestrica,' and in 1847 his 'Agricultural Botany.' Besides these he published many interesting botanical papers. In 1825 he was among the first that were interested in State canals and railroads. Dr. Darlington served in the Fourteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Congresses of the United States, and was opposed to the extension of slavery. He died April 23, 1863, and the memorial stone over his remains in Oakland cemetery bears the following lines written by himself twnety years before his death: 'The plants of Chester, which he loved and described, may they blossom forever above his tomb.'"