SARRASIN, Michel, Canadian author, born in France in 1659; died 9 September, 1734. He resided at Quebec when Canada was a French dependency, and was a Inember of the superior council of the colony. He became physician to the king, keeper of the king's seal in 1733, and a member of the Academy of sciences of Paris. On his arrival the historian Charlevoix expressed surprise at finding so learned a man in the colony. Sarrasin contributed many articles to the publications of various learned societies, among others a "Description of the Castor," in the memoirs of the Academy of sciences (1704); "A Letter on the MinerM Waters of Cap de la Magdeleine," in the memoirs of Trevoux (1736);" Description of the Water or Musk Rat of America," in the Paris "Documents"; and a description of a plant which he had discovered and named "'Sarracenia purpurea." The whole genus of which this is a species was named "Sarracenia " by Tournefort, in honor of Dr. Sarrasin.