Background
Nathaniel was born on April 20, 1876, in Union, South Carolina, United States.
祁天锡
Nathaniel was born on April 20, 1876, in Union, South Carolina, United States.
Nathaniel studied at Union Graded School and High School in Union, South Carolina. He attended Wofford College in 1892 where he received his Master’s Degree.
In 1901, after working at Columbia College and other schools, Nathaniel came to China and was appointed Professor of Natural Sciences at Soochow University. He devoted most of his time to the biology education of China, spending only a few months leave in his native country taking care of his sick wife. He returned to China after his wife’s death in 1921. First serving as representative of the Spencer Lens Company, he was then hired by the China Medical Board of the Rockefeller Foundation. He left China in 1932, and worked as Biology Professor in London College until his death of illness.
N. Gist Gee was the first science teacher from abroad who reached the level of university instructor in China. As a biologist, N. Gist Gee promoted the development of biology in modern China, including biology education, investigation of plants and animals, and the institutionalization of biology research.
Nathaniel was the author of numerous books: an Introduction to Biology, a Text Book of Botany, A List of the Plants of Kiangsu Province, and joint author with L. I. Moffett of The Birds of the Lower Yangtze River.
Nathaniel was married to Clara Belle Davis.
