Summary:
"The Lives of Celebrated Travellers, Vol. II" by James Augustus St. John is a collection of biographical accounts detailing the lives and journeys of notable explorers and scientists. Written in the early 19th century, this volume highlights individuals who made significant contributions to the fields of travel, botany, and geography. The work aims to inspire readers with tales of adventure, exploration, and the pursuit of knowledge in various cultures and landscapes. The opening of the volume introduces the first traveler, Joseph Pitton de Tournefort, a passionate botanist born in France. It details his early love for plants, his education, and his extensive travels across Europe and into the East, including encounters with various cultures, landscapes, and challenges faced during his explorations. St. John's narrative captures Tournefort's character, his dedication to botany, and the very real perils of traveling in a less understood world, setting a tone of adventure that continues throughout the book. (This is an automatically generated summary.)