John Eatton Le Conte

Who was John Eatton Le Conte?

John Eatton Le Conte, Jr. was an American naturalist. He was born near Shrewsbury, New Jersey, the son of John Eatton Le Conte and Jane Sloane Le Conte. He graduated from Columbia College, where he showed an interest in science and was taught natural history by David Hosack, founder of Elgin Botanical Garden.

John Le Conte's older brother Louis inherited the family plantation, Woodmanston, near Midway in Georgia. Although John Le Conte usually lived in New York or New England, he spent his winters at Woodmanston. He suffered from rheumatism, and possibly other ailments, for most of his adult life.

In April 1818 Le Conte was appointed captain in the United States Army Corps of Topographical Engineers. His early assignments included surveying the vicinity of Norfolk, Virginia, the harbor at Savannah, Georgia and Ossabaw Sound, Georgia. LeConte was promoted to brevet major in April 1828, and resigned his commission in August 1831.

Early in 1821 John Le Conte approached Secretary of War John C. Calhoun to propose an exploration expedition to the newly acquired territory of Florida.