Frederick William Gray
American botanist (1878–1960)
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Frederick William Gray was an American pastor, horticulturalist, and botanist. He was known for his work in the cultivation of Gladiolus and for his expertise in the flora of West Virginia.
Rev. Frederick William Gray | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1878 |
| Died | 9 March 1960 (age 82) |
| Alma mater | Catawba College Union Theological Seminary |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Botany |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | F.W.Gray |
Biography
Gray was born in Anson County, North Carolina, in 1878. He attained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Catawba College in 1905, before attending Union Theological Seminary to earn his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1908. After his graduation, Gray became a minister of the Presbyterian Church.[1]
Gray worked as a pastor around West Virginia, Virginia, and Missouri. He was bestowed an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Davis and Elkins College in 1929. In 1932, he settled in Barbour County, West Virginia.[1]
Gray was a founding member of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Club in 1935.[2] He gained a reputation in the field of horticulture through the hybridization and cultivation Gladiolus flowers. He was also a keen plant collector, contributing thousands of specimens to regional herbaria. Gray himself studied plants, and published descriptive scientific articles on varieties and forms he discovered.[1]
Gray retired to Riverside, Maryland. He died in Washington, D.C. on 9 March 1960 at the age of 82. He had a daughter[3] and two sons.[4]
Legacy
Approximately 24,000 specimens collected by Gray are housed at the University of West Virginia.[1] The herbarium at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also maintains a small collection of Gray's specimens.[5]