George Vasey (botanist)

George Vasey
From Canby & Rose (1893)[1]
Born	(1822-02-28)February 28, 1822 Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	March 4, 1893(1893-03-04) (aged 71) Washington, D.C., United States
Alma mater	Berkshire Medical Institute
Known for	Chief Botanist of USDA, curator of the United States National Herbarium
Spouse	Martha Jane Scott
Awards	Hon. M.A., fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Scientific career
Institutions	USDA
Author abbrev. (botany)	Vasey

George Vasey (February 28, 1822 – March 4, 1893) was an English-born American physician, botanist, and agrostologist. He practiced medicine in Illinois for nearly two decades before being appointed Chief Botanist at the United States Department of Agriculture in 1872, a position he held for the remainder of his life. In 1889 the Smithsonian Institution named him Honorary Curator of the United States National Herbarium, the crowning achievement of his career.

The alias George S. Vasey is often used to avoid confusion with his son George Richard Vasey. However, the father never used a middle initial in the 19th century. On letters and publications, he signed his name as George Vasey, Geo. Vasey, or Dr. Geo. Vasey. Most of his herbarium specimens are labeled with the name G. Vasey or one of the previous names. The source of the middle initial is unknown.