John Bartram was an American botanist, explorer, and horticulturist born in 1699 in Pennsylvania. He is often referred to as the "father of American botany" for his extensive studies of native plants. Bartram established the first botanical garden in North America, located in Philadelphia, where he cultivated a variety of plants and shared his findings with other scientists. Bartram traveled throughout the eastern United States, documenting and collecting plant species. His work contributed significantly to the understanding of North American flora and influenced future botanists, including William Bartram, his son, who continued his legacy by exploring and writing about the natural world.