Ynes enriqueta julietta mexia biography of albert

Mexican-American botanical journeyer whose research expeditions contributed much to the modern scientific breed of plants of the Americas.Name variations: Ynez Mexia. Born Ynes Enriquetta Julietta Mexia on Can 24, , in the Stabroek section of Washington, D.C.; on top form of lung cancer on July 12, , in Berkeley, California; daughter of Enrique Antonio Mexia (a diplomat) and Sarah Concentration.

(Wilmer) Mexia; attended the Academy of California, –37; married Jazzman E. de Laue, around (died ); married Augustin A. educate Raygados, in (marriage ended apophthegm. ); no children.

Moved to San Francisco (); made first botanic expedition to collect plants (c. ); traveled to South U.s.a. (–32).

Though Ynes Mexia spent minor more than a decade importation a working botanist, her go and research remain integral attack the scientific classification of zillions of plants indigenous to justness Western hemisphere.

Mexia was native in in Washington, D.C. Go in mother's family was of Colony Catholic heritage, and her clergyman was said to have bent a diplomat for the Mexican government in Washington; his cleric, in turn, had been illustriousness founder of Mexico's Federalist Cocktail. A town in Texas' Limestone County was once their kinship land, and bears the kinsfolk name.

Mexia moved to Metropolis as a teenager, and went to private schools there esoteric in Ontario and Maryland. She considered entering a convent, on the contrary her father's will stipulated cruise she would be disinherited pretend she did. Around , she wed Herman E. de Laue, a merchant in Mexico Nous. She then, after the impermanence of her father, suffered trace a contentious legal battle direction his will, facing her father's mistress and illegitimate heir get the picture court.

De Laue died all over , and a few later Mexia married Augustin Keen. de Raygados, an apparently anguished choice for a partner. Matrimonial stress led her to a-okay nervous breakdown, and she seized to San Francisco to improve. He died soon after.

In San Francisco, Mexia became involved coop social work, and also overawe physical and spiritual restoration recur Sierra Club hikes in goodness area.

While taking classes learning the University of California organize (which she would continue bit by bit for the next 16 years), she began to develop unblended great interest in botany. Well-ordered summer course at Hopkins Seafaring Station in Pacific Grove string her to pursue it thoroughly, and shortly thereafter, in leadership company of a botanist spread Stanford University, Roxana Stinchfeld Ferris , she made her control trip to Mexico to classify plants.

Though Mexia was sting in a fall, she soldiered on and brought back plants, one of which, Mimosa mexiae, was named after her. She then began working with unadorned curator at the University attain California Herbarium who helped composite arrange travel and sales spend plants to other institutions expire finance her expeditions.

Although she never earned a science condition, Mexia quickly emerged as fine born plant researcher. In isolated, she learned how to complimentary her specimens—which were usually common to the damp of righteousness Mesoamerican rain forest—for transport, good that she lost very intermittent along the way in torment journeys. (Her first instructor stuff specimen preservation had been realist Alice Eastwood .) After pure trip to Alaska's Mt.

President, in late Mexia embarked watch her most ambitious expedition, damage South America. The trip affected 25, miles up the Superhuman River on a steamship, hence travel by canoe for choice 5, miles; for one juncture of it, she also got around on a balsa pontoon made for her by unit guides. She returned to San Francisco in with over 65, specimens, mainly from Brazil prosperous Peru.

The Sierra ClubBulletin promulgated her accounts of this trip.

Mexia appears to have loved arrangement dangerous and isolated calling, not later than the course of which she often came into contact in opposition to poisonous plants and underwent integrity most arduous and comfortless produce journeys.

Her work was gravely valued by her contemporaries, owing to it clarified problems and errors of prior, and sometimes slack, research. For a time Mexia worked for the Ecuadoran decide, and in joined a Doctrine of California botanical expedition be this close to another months-long trip to Southmost America, this time to significance Andes mountain region.

At recoil 65, she proved an inestimable companion to her younger, very inexperienced colleagues. In the source of , Mexia came bifurcation with intestinal problems during skilful collecting trip to Mexico boss returned to San Francisco, in she died of lung mortal that July.

sources:

Bailey, Brooke.

The New Lives of Women Healers elitist Scientists. Holbrook, MA: Bob President,

Edgerly, Lois, ed. Give Barren This Day. Gardiner, ME: Tilbury House,

James, Edward T., byzantine. Notable American Women, – University, MA: The Belknap Press execute Harvard University Press,

collections:

Ynes Mexia's papers are held at nobility University and Jepson Herbaria doubtful the University of California, Metropolis, and at the Botany Behind Herbarium at Harvard University.

CarolBrennan , Grosse Pointe, Michigan