American naturalist, born in Boston on the 18th of October 1803. He graduated at Brown University in 1821, and engaged successfully in commercial pursuits, but devoted himself afterwards to science, being the first president of the Boston Society of Naturalists, and president of the American Association of Naturalists and Geologists until his death, when the association was merged in that of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was a member of the state legislature, and in this capacity did much to promote the study of the natural history of the state, with special reference to animals and insects injurious to crops and fruit trees. His wealth enabled him to prosecute his favorite study successfully, engaging special exploring parties and artists in the preparation of his work, The Terrestrial and Air-breathing Mollusks of the United States and Adjoining Territories, which appeared from 1847–51, after his death, under the direction of Dr. A. A. Gould. He died at Rome on the 18th of February 1847.
