Michaux, an18th Century French Botanist, is probably best known for introducing the Crape Myrtle and Camellia into this country, yet his achievements go far beyond this. Despite the fact that he covered more territory than Daniel Boone few people truly know the extent of his travels and how important his discoveries were to the history of botany in America. He spent 11 years traveling across the eastern U.S. and Canada through many difficult conditions exploring the land. Michaux is credited with naming and documenting 283 new species of plants. The most significant of Michaux’s finds in the Carolina Piedmont was the big leaf magnolia.

In 1785 Michaux was commissioned by Louis XVI as King’s Botanist to travel to North America to collect and ship back seeds and trees useful for French agriculture. Once he arrived in New York he began shipping back trees, seeds, cranberries and sweet potatoes to France. He established a garden in New Jersey and then later Charleston, where he made his home. During these 11 years Michaux spent his time exploring thousands of miles of unknown territories by foot and horseback, encountering many perilous conditions, yet still he managed to keep copious detailed accounts of everything he discovered on his journeys.

At the 1994 200th Anniversary of Michaux’s climb up Grandfather Mountain Charles Kuralt eloquently described Michaux as “one of the most remarkable human beings of the 18th Century, or any other century, because of his courage, using strength, generosity, intellectual achievement and almost superhuman persistence.”

Charlie Williams from Charlotte, NC, is not only a librarian but also a scholar and expert on the 18th century French botanist and explorer. With a life long love of nature and history Williams has dedicated much of his life to highlighting the works of the great pioneer. Dressed in period costume Williams adopts the persona of André Michaux as he tells the story of his travels and exploits. Williams is the Chairman of the André Michaux International Symposium and just last year headed a delegation to Rambouillet, France, to participate in a celebration for Michaux. Williams, who also serves on a number of local and national conservation groups and historical associations, has conducted more than 50 presentations on Michaux. Williams has been the first to really highlight the work of Michaux in the Carolina Piedmont.

Charlie Williams has conducted research into Michaux’s travels in the Hartsville area. It is believed that Michaux traveled through this area of South Carolina in 1794 on his way from Fayetteville to Charleston. According to records he first went to Society Hill and headed towards “Black Swamp” (Black Creek) and eventually crossed the Santee River.

It is perhaps only now and with thanks to people like Charlie Williams that over 200 years later Michaux is finally getting the recognition he deserves. After all, what would South Carolina be without the Camellia, Crape Myrtle and the delightful scent of the tea olive?