Orra White Hitchcock

Orra White Hitchcock (* March 1796 in Amherst ( Massachusetts), † May 26, 1863 ibid ) was an American painter and botanist.

Orra White Hitchcock was the daughter of Jarib White, a farmer in Amherst, Massachusetts. At school she excelled in science, art, Latin and Greek. At the age of seventeen she became a substitute teacher for art, cartography and astronomy at the Deerfield Academy. 1821 she married Edward Hitchcock, the director of the school. She accompanied her husband on his scientific expeditions and illustrated many of his works. She also devoted himself to botany, where her were her drawing skills of great benefit.

It is regarded as one of the first American female artist. With her ​​husband, she had eight children, two of whom, Edward Hitchcock, Jr. (1828-1911) and Charles Henry Hitchcock (1836-1919), also gained scientific fame.