Background
Collins, Joseph William was born on August 8, 1839 in Isleboro, Maine, United States. Son of David and Eliza B. (Sawyer) Collins.
Collins, Joseph William was born on August 8, 1839 in Isleboro, Maine, United States. Son of David and Eliza B. (Sawyer) Collins.
Primary education in small country schools. Self-taught in higher branches on shipboard. Worked on fishing schooner from a boy of 10 years old, and later commanded schooners sailing from Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Made statist. inquiry into fisheries of New England for 10th Census 1879-1880, and for United States Fish Commission, with which he remained connected until December 1892. Was on staff of the United States commissioner International Fisheries Expns. Berlin, 1880, London, 1883.
United States commissioner to Bergen Exposition, Norway, 1898.
Appointed in charge Division of Fisheries, United States Fish Commission, 1888. Chief department Fish and Fisheries, World’s Columbian Exposition.
Organized, 1884, and was honorary curator until 1893, section of Naval Architecture, United States National Museum. One of contributors to Century Dictionary.
Edited Fishing Gazette, 1893-1894.
President Commercial Fisheries Association, 1894. Made Chevalier of Saint Olaf by Norwegian government, 1898. Chairman Massachusetts Fish and Game Commission, from October 31, 1899.
Honorary member various European fishery and scientific societies.
Member various European fishery and scientific societies.
Married Pauline Coombs, March 1, 1861 (died 1894). Married second, Sallie Atkinson, April.