American lawyer in Rhode Island and California, responsible for much botanical exploration in the latter state during his spare time. Joseph Whipple Congdon was born into a Quaker family in Pomfret, Connecticut, and attended Brown University. After graduating top of his class in 1855 he taught for a few years before being called to the bar in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1860. Practicing law in that city for almost 20 years, Congdon moved to California in 1880 where he once again taught in schools before practicing as a lawyer in Mariposa for almost the remainder of his life.

Congdon had been interested in plant life since his childhood, an interest which was nurtured by his Aunt Francis Green with whom he published a school textbook entitled Analytical Class Book of Botany in 1855. In California his collecting activity was extensive and he discovered many new species (some of which were published by Congdon himself) although he did not produce a great number of botanical papers. The majority of his specimens were from the Mariposa area and every summer he explored Yosemite Valley or the High Sierras, although he visited scattered locations across the state besides this. At the time of his death Congdon's widow received $250 for his herbarium of over 10,000 numbers which was purchased by the University of Minnesota. Some ten plant species now bear his name, including Carex congdonii Bailey and Sedum congdonii Eastwood.

Sources:
W.L. Jepson, 1928, "Botanical Explorers of California-II: Joseph Whipple Congdon", Madroño, 1: 175-176.