Background
He was born in New York City, and studied at the College of Physicians and Surgeons (today Columbia University), receiving an Doctor of Medicine
naturalist Zoologist military physician
He was born in New York City, and studied at the College of Physicians and Surgeons (today Columbia University), receiving an Doctor of Medicine
In 1851, and subsequently serving as surgeon at New York Hospital. In 1853 he joined the Pacific Railroad Survey led by Isaac Stevens, and in 1856 resigned from the United States Army to pursue natural history full-time, publishing several works on the life of the Pacific Northwest. Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War, Suckley rejoined the Army, and worked as a surgeon throughout the war.
He died in New York City a few years after the war.
Two fish species, Squalus suckleyi Girard 1855, and Catostomus sucklii Girard 1856, are named after George Suckley.