The Biographical Dictionary of America/Baird, Spencer Fullerton

BAIRD, Spencer Fullerton, naturalist, was born at Reading, Pa., Feb. 3, 1823; son of Samuel Baird. He was graduated at Dickinson college, Pa., in the class of 1840; attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city; became professor of natural history at Dickinson in 1845, and later accepted the professorship of chemistry in addition. In 1850 he was made assistant secretaries and in May, 1878, succeeded as secretary of the Smithsonian institution. He sent out natural history parties, taking charge of the specimens they collected and editing their reports. He also collected many valuable specimens which he added to those brought in by the parties, and these laid the foundation of the United States museum at Washington. In 1871 he was chosen U. S. commissioner of fish and fisheries, and was so successful in his work of protecting and promoting the culture of fish in the rivers and lakes of America that some European countries followed his teachings. He received the honorary degree of M. D. from the Philadelphia medical college in 1848, and in 1856 Dickinson college conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., and in 1875 he received the degree of LL. D. from the Columbian university. For a number of years he occupied the position of a trustee of Columbian university, and also of the Corcoran gallery of art in Washington. During the years 1850 and 1851 he was secretary of the American association for the advancement of science, and in 1864 was made a member of the National academy of science. He received many honorary medals from foreign societies, a medal from the Acclimation society of Melbourne in 1878, from that of France in 1879; the first honor prize for the International fish exhibit in Berlin in 1880; and the order of St. Olaf from the King of Norway and Sweden. More than twenty-five kinds of animal life have been named in his honor, as well as several extinct species. Prof. George Brown Goode's bibliography of his works from 1843 to 1882 include 1,063 titles. Among his most widely used works are his translation of Heck's "Bilder Atlas"; the "Iconographic Encyclopædia" (4 vols., 1852); "Catalogue of North American Reptiles" (1853); "Mammals of North America" (1859); "Birds of North America," with John Cassin (1860); "Review of American Birds in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution" (1864-'66); "Distribution and Migrations of North American Birds" with Thomas M. Brewer and Robert Ridgway (5 vols., 1874-’84). He was scientific editor of Harper and Brother's publications. 1870-'78. (See Baird's "Manual of North American Birds," (1887).) He received eight votes for a place in the Hall of Fame, New York university, in October, 1900. He died at Woods Hull. Mass., Aug. 19, 1887.