Baird, SPENCER FULLERTON, LL.D.

Baird, SPENCER FULLERTON, LL.D., an American naturalist, was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, 23d February 1823. He was educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, and became professor of Natural Science there in 1846. In 1850 he was elected assistant-secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, and in 1878 secretary. He translated from the German and edited the Iconographic Encyclopædia; and published Reports on the collections in natural history made by Stansbury, Gilliss, Macey, and others in the government explorations. In connection with John Cassin, he published The Birds of North America (2 vols. 1860), and The Mammals of North America (1859); and with Dr Brewer and Professor Ridgeway, History of the Birds of North America (5 vols. 1870-84). Dr Baird published numerous other papers upon mammals, birds, reptiles, and fishes. In 1871 he was appointed by the president United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, and in that capacity he has accomplished much towards the advancement of fisheries and fish-culture, accounts of the results of this work being embodied in annual Reports. His especial work, while assistant-secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, was the development of the National Museum, which made its beginning under his direction in 1850. A bibliography of his publications, with a biographical sketch, constitutes Bulletin No. 20 of the National Museum. He died 19th August 1887.