Life and Writings of Grant Thorburn Prepared by Himself

Born in Scotland in 1773, Thorburn learned from his father to make nails and became an expert. In 1794 he immigrated to New York, as he says in the Preface "with only three cents in my pocket, and my nail-hammer in my hand." Thorburn immediately found employment in that profession (the nature of the nail-making business is described here in detail). Soon however the invention of the nail-cutting machine deprived him of an occupation. He went to work as a grocer and became interested in plants. W