Page:Men of Mark in America vol 2.djvu/213

 CLINTON HART MERRIAM ERRIAM, CLINTON HART, chief of the United States Biological Survey since 1885, author, authority on ornithology, mammalogy and the geographic distribution of animals and plants in North America, with an especial line of research on the subject of Indian basketry, is a scientist whose native bent was strong. He says of himself, "I always wanted and meant to be a naturalist, and my parents helped me in every way." His especial taste and desire in childhood and youth was in the direction of natural history, and his career is an instance of what a man can accomplish by following the strong inclination of his temperament, when he devotes himself to thorough study and investigation, and of how largely he can add to the stores of scientific knowledge in his chosen department by individual insight and industry.

He was born, December 5, 1855, in New York city. His father, a man of integrity and industry, was a banker and commission broker, and later in life retired from business. He was a member of congress for a time. Of his mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Hart, Mr. Merriam says: "My mother was an exceptionally superior woman, and her influence had much to do in shaping my early life." Strong and healthy as a boy, he lived at his father's home at Locust Grove, Lewis county, in Northern New York, near the Adirondacks. Here he did all kinds of farm work. It was the wish of his parents that he have a college education and accordingly he went to Easthampton, Massachusetts, there to prepare for the, Sheffield scientific school of Yale college. At the Sheffield he specialized in zoology. He studied medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, graduating in 1879. At once he took up the practice of medicine and surgery at Locust Grove, New York, and was so engaged until 1885. Previously to these years he had accompanied Hayden's Survey as naturalist in 1872, and had been assistant on the United States Fish Commission in 1875. In 1885 he became chief of the division of Ornithology and Mammalogy (now