Charles R. Barnes

Born in 1858, Charles Reid Barnes was an American botanist whose work helped define plant science in the United States. He taught at Purdue University and later at the University of Chicago, where he became known for research in plant physiology and for building the field into a more rigorous scientific discipline.

Barnes is especially remembered for introducing the term "photosynthesis," a word that became central to biology. He also wrote and edited scientific work that helped students and researchers better understand how plants function.

He died in 1910, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. For listeners interested in the history of science, Barnes stands out as one of the figures who gave modern botany some of its most familiar language and foundations.