Charles Wilkins Short (October 6, 1794 – March 7, 1863) was an American botanist. He primarily worked in the state of Kentucky. Short discovered several species of plants and has six species of plants named after him. He attended Transylvania University and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to being a botanist, he practiced medicine and taught materia medica. Short also owned a sizable herbarium. Short retired from teaching in 1849.
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Early life and education
Short was born on October 6, 1794, in Woodford County, Kentucky. His parents were Peyton Short and Maria Symmes Short. Short had four siblings and four half-siblings. Two of his grandparents were John Cleves and Anna Tuthill Symmes. He lived on his father's farm during his early life. Short received his primary education from the well-known teacher Joshua Fry.
Short attended Transylvania University and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1810 and a Master of Arts in 1813. In 1813, he studied under Caspar Wistar in Philadelphia. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania and became a Doctor of Medicine in 1815.