John Lawson

Born in England in 1674, John Lawson became an explorer, surveyor, and naturalist whose name is closely tied to early colonial Carolina. After arriving in the colony, he traveled extensively through the region, observing its plants, animals, geography, and Indigenous communities.

He is best known for A New Voyage to Carolina (also published as The Natural History of Carolina), a work drawn from his travels in the early 1700s. The book stands out for its lively descriptions and has remained valuable both as a travel narrative and as a record of the colonial South.

Lawson also helped shape the colony in practical ways, working as surveyor-general and taking part in the founding of New Bern in North Carolina. In 1711, during escalating conflict in the region, he was captured and killed, leaving behind a book that still gives readers a rare window into early American history.