Place and time of origin unknown. Mentioned by Le Lectier in 1628 under the name of 'Milan de la Beuveriere'. Fruit medium in size and generally globular in form, sometimes slightly turbinate. Skin pale green in color, occasionally tinged with yellow, occasionally blushed, numerous dots. Flesh white, fairly fine, quite free of grit, juicy. Moderately sweet, somewhat acidulous, pleasing flavor. Rather early in season. Tree vigorous, with grayish foliage. Moderately susceptible to fire blight. -- H. Hartman, Oregon Experiment Station Bulletin, 1957. Summer Bergamot. Origin Europe. Only valuable as a very early variety. Synonyms: Bergamot Summer, Bergamotte d'Ete, Bergamotte d'Angleterre, Bergamotte d'Hampden, Beuvrier, Early Summer Bergamot, Hampden's Bergamot, Milan and Milan blanc, Milan Beuviere, Milan Blanc, Milan de la Beuvriere. -- W.H. Ragan, Nomenclature of the Pear, 1908.
Hampden's Bergamot (of Robert Thompson, 1842). Summer Bergamot, Bergamot d'Ete, Bergamotte d'Angleterre, Scotch Bergamot, Fingal's. Ellanrioch. Hampden's Bergamot is a strong growing, hardy tree and a handsome, showy fruit, sometimes as attractive as the Bartlett, but of breaking texture, and not so high flavoured. Fruit large, roundish, inclining to obovate. Skin at first green, becoming clear yellow at maturity, with small dots, and sometimes with greenish spots in the shade. Stalk scarcely a small round cavity. Calyx small, closed, in a shallow basin. Flesh white, breaking, a little coarse in texture, but, if gathered early and ripened in the house, it becomes half buttery, sweet and agreeable. First of September. -- A.J. Downing, The fruits and fruit trees of America, 1846.