Holbrook, John Edwards, 1794-1871

A physician and founder of the Medical College of South Carolina (1824), Holbrook was also considered the most important zoologist of his time, specializing in the study of American reptiles and fishes.

Beaufort and Charleston, S.C. zoologist and physician. Holbrook spent much of his early life in Massachusetts, graduating from Brown University in 1815. He received his M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and afterwards spent four years in travel and graduate study in Europe. Returning to the United States in 1822, he established a medical practice in Charleston, S.C., where he was later professor of anatomy at the Medical College. Holbrook authored a book entitled "North American Herpetology," first published in 1836. His wife was Harriott Pinckney Rutledge, daughter of Frederick Rutledge (1768-1821) and Harriett Pinckney Horry (1770-1858).

Zoologist and physician of Beaufort and Charleston, S.C.; a native of Beaufort, S.C., Holbrook spent much of his early life in Massachusetts and New England; he graduated in 1815 from Brown University and in 1818 took his M.D. degree in from the University of Pennsylvania and afterwards spent four years in travel and graduate study in Europe. Returning to the United States in 1822, he established a medical practice in Charleston, S.C.; in 1827, he married Charlestonian Harriott Pinckney Rutledge, daughter of Frederick Rutledge (1768-1821) and Harriett Pinckney Horry (1770-1858).

Holbrook was a founder of the Medical College of South Carolina; author of North American Herpetology (1842) and Ichthyology of South Carolina (1855-1860); son of Silas and Mary Edwards Holbrook.