John Torrey was an American botanist and physician, born on September 15, 1796, in New York City. He is best known for his contributions to the field of botany, particularly in the study of North American plants. Torrey co-founded the Torrey Botanical Society and published several important works, including the "Flora of the State of New York," which helped classify and document various plant species. In addition to his botanical work, Torrey was a professor at Columbia University and served as the first professor of natural history at the University of Michigan. His research and writings significantly advanced the understanding of plant taxonomy and ecology in the 19th century.