Ernest Ingersoll facts for kids
Ernest Ingersoll (born March 13, 1852 – died November 13, 1946) was an American naturalist, writer, and explorer. He spent his life studying nature and sharing his discoveries through books and articles.
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About Ernest Ingersoll
Ernest Ingersoll was born in Monroe, Michigan. He studied at Oberlin College and later at Harvard University. At Harvard, he learned from a famous scientist named Louis Agassiz.
Early Career and Discoveries
After Agassiz passed away in 1873, Ernest started his writing career. He wrote an article about Agassiz's work for the New York Tribune newspaper. This led to him writing more science articles.
In 1874, he traveled to the American West. He went as a zoologist, studying animals for the Hayden survey. During this trip, he collected many mollusks, which are soft-bodied animals like snails and clams. He later wrote a scientific paper about them.
Ernest also became friends with photographer William Henry Jackson on this trip. Together, they were the first scientists to explore and describe the ancient cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde. These were homes built into cliffs by early people. Ernest sent reports back to the Tribune, and soon he joined their staff as a reporter. He also wrote for other magazines, including one that later became Field and Stream.
Later Explorations and Writing
Ernest went on another trip West in 1877. He continued to write articles about his adventures. In 1879, he visited Colorado to write about mining. That same year, he started a big project. He described shellfish fisheries for the United States Fish Commission and the United States Census Bureau. This project lasted until 1881. His reports covered modern fishing methods. They also talked about how Native Americans and ancient societies used shellfish long ago.
Protecting Nature
Ernest Ingersoll strongly believed in protecting wildlife and natural places. He preferred to take notes and photographs instead of collecting animal specimens. He shared these ideas in popular talks around 1888.
From the 1890s to 1905, he updated guidebooks for Rand McNally. In 1900, he moved to New York City. At this time, he wrote a weekly column for a newspaper in Montreal. Readers often asked him for help identifying birds. So, he wrote a series of articles listing and describing Canadian birds. He also made a similar list for Canadian snakes. His daughter, Helen, helped him write and illustrate the snake list and some of his books.
Ernest stopped writing his column in 1938 when he retired. He was 94 years old when he passed away in a nursing home in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Family Life
Ernest Ingersoll married Mary Schofield (1853-1920) in 1873. They had two children: Helen, born in 1874, and Geoffrey, born in 1889.
