Jean Nicolas Sebastien Allamand, a naturalist, born in Lausanne in 1713, died in Leyden, March 2, 1787. He was professor of philosophy and natural history at the university of Leyden, member of the London royal society, and of the Haarlem academy of sciences. The Dutch sailors collected for him, in their expeditions into distant countries, specimens of plants, animals, and fossils, which he placed in the botanic garden and museum of the university, which were under his care. He devoted much time to the study of electricity, and was the first to explain the phenomena of the Leyden jar. The shrub Allamanda, a native of South America, is called after him. He was the literary executor of 'sGravesande and Prosper Marchand, and, besides editing their unpublished works, translated and edited many English books.