John Lawson, Explorer 1674 –1711

John Lawson  Surveyor, Naturalist and Explorer  Helped found Bath and New Bern  Explored the Carolina backcountry  Wrote “A New Voyage to Carolina”

John Lawson  Born around 1674 in London, England  Mother died when he was 16  Studied natural science in college  Learned a lot from scientists that were part of an organization called the Royal Society  In 1700, at 25 sailed from England to what is now Charleston, SC.  On his birthday (December 28, 1700) he set out on an expedition to explore the Carolina backcountry.

John Lawson’s Expedition  Included John Lawson, several traders from Virginia, and some Indian guides  Left what is now Charleston on December 28,  Traveled through the Carolina backcountry  Walked and canoed 600 miles in two months  Followed trading paths  Took them through or near what is now Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greenville  Ended where Bath is today in February of 1701  Observed 20 different Native American Tribes  Described geography, plant-life and animal-life  Collected numerous specimens

Map of Lawson’s Expedition

A New Voyage to Carolina  Published by John Lawson in 1709  Description of his expedition of the Carolina backcountry  Documented visit to 20 different Native American tribes in Carolina  Described the geography, animals, plants and natural resources of the Carolinas  Still read today

John Lawson, Surveyor  Used his talents and skills in math to become a surveyor  1705—Appointed Deputy Surveyor by the Lords Proprietors  1708—Appointed Surveyor General (Head of Surveyors)

Founding of Bath  Helped found the town of Bath in  Bath became North Carolina’s oldest town.  Also helped in the founding of New Bern in 1710  New Bern became North Carolina’s second oldest town.

Tuscarora War  In 1711, captured by Tuscarora Indians near New Bern  Tortured and Killed by the Tuscarora Indians  Beginning of Tuscarora War that lasted until 1715