Henry Perrine

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Henry Perrine was a physician, horticulturist, United States Consul in Campeche, Mexico, and an enthusiast for introducing tropical plants into cultivation in the United States.

Henry Edward Perrine was born April 5, 1797 at Cranbury, New Jersey. He taught school while still a youth, studied medicine, and then practiced medicine in Illinois for five years. He married Ann Fuller Townsend while living in Illinois. In 1821 he was accidentally poisoned with arsenic, from which he never fully recovered, and moved to Natchez, Mississippi in the hope that the climate would aid his recovery. Three years later he was appointed United States Consul in Campeche, Mexicon, where he served for ten years.

While in Compeche Dr. Perrine became interested in introducing tropical crops into the United States, and began sending seeds to people he knew in Florida. On his return to the United States, Dr. Perrine campaigned for a land grant on which he could start a plant introduction station. In 1839 the United States Congress granted Dr. Perrine a survey township (36 sq. mi.) in southern Florida.

While waiting for Congress to approve his land grant, Dr. Perrine had taken up residence with his family on Indian Key in the Florida Keys. On August 7, 1840, Indians attacked Indian Key. Several people were killed, including Dr. Perrine, but his family escaped. Part of the Perrine Grant eventually became the community of Perrine, Florida.

[edit] References

• Dr. Henry Perrine of Indian Key - accessed January 13, 2006
• Viele, John (1996). The Florida Keys: a History of the Pioneers, Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc.. ISBN 1-56164-101-4.