Asa Gray (Gray Asa)

(1810-1888)
Born November 18, 1810 in Paris (pc. New York). He graduated from medical school in Fairfield (pc. Connecticut). Engaged in the practice of medicine, botany, got carried away and acted as assistant to Dr. Dzh.Torreyu in New York, author of the textbook of Botany. In 1836 signed a contract with the American research expedition. Two years later he was appointed professor of botany at Michigan State University. In 1838 went to Europe, toured many botanical gardens and collections, in London, met with Robert Brown, Charles Darwin and other scientists. Upon returning to New York in 1839, Gray for three years worked with Torrea over labor Flora of North America (Flora of North America). In 1842 he was invited to the post of professor of natural history at Harvard University. He worked as director of the university botanical garden, created one of the richest in America herbarium.
After examining the material collected by botanists at the time of the great expeditions of the 19., Gray published their results. Issued a series of textbooks that have helped the formation of botanical education in the U.S.. Gray is known as a follower of Charles Darwin and popularizer of his ideas. Their correspondence began in the years when Darwin wrote his work The Origin of Species. Gray gave Darwin a number of materials, mainly on the systematics of angiosperms and Phytogeography of North America.

Gray followed the orthodox religious views, but considered consistent theory of evolution and the idea of an act of divine creation. These views are set out in his work Darviniana (Darviniana, 1876).

Gray died in Cambridge (ea. Massachusetts) January 30, 1888.