The New Student's Reference Work/Baird, Spencer Fullerton

Baird, Spencer Fullerton, a noted naturalist, was born at Reading, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1823. He was educated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, and was afterward professor of natural science in the institution. He was secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington, and afterward commissioner of fish and fisheries. He wrote many papers on birds, reptiles, fishes, etc., and under his direction the National Museum was begun in 1850. In connection with other editors he published The Birds of North America, The Mammals of North America and a History of the Birds of North America in five volumes. He died at Wood's Holl, Mass., August 19, 1887.