Theological compend, containing a system of divinity
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The Terrestrial Air-breathing Mollusks of the United States: And the Adjacent Territories of North America Volume 1
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Amos Binney was an American zoologist. He was a co-founder of the Boston Society of Natural History.
Background
Amos Binney was born on October 18, 1803, in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, the second child of Col. Amos Binney and Hannah (Dolliver) Binney, and came of a family traceable to John and Mercy Binney of Hull, Massachussets, who came from England in 1678 or 1679. Many members of this family were prominent in shipping, commerce, the professions and public affairs of New England.
Education
Binney was educated at Brown University, graduating in 1821. During his college years he became interested in the natural sciences. Like most young naturalists he collected birds' eggs, afterward taking up the collection and study of land shells and other mollusks. After beginning the study of medicine, ill health led him to a horseback trip to Cincinnati, followed by a year in Europe, where natural-history museums and art galleries were his favorite haunts. Restored to health he turned homeward, resumed his studies, and received the degree of M. D. from Harvard in 1826. This course of study was undertaken chiefly for the sake of scientific training, in those times not offered in college courses. He had no desire to practise medicine, preferring to become associated with his father in real estate and other business ventures. His leisure was always devoted to scientific studies.
Career
After his father's death Amos carried on the business with marked success until 1842. In 1830 Binney, Augustus A. Gould, and several others founded the Boston Society of Natural History. From the outset Binney contributed freely to the resources of the Society, both scientific and financial. He gave papers on zoological and paleontological subjects.
Elected to the state legislature in 1836, he was instrumental in obtaining state support for geological, zoological, and botanical surveys, resulting in the classical Massachusetts Reports by Gould, Harris, and others, useful far beyond the borders of the state.
About 1835 Binney began the studies for his chief work, The Terrestrial Air-Breathing Mollusks of the United States and the Adjacent Territories of North America. Practically completed at the time of his death, it was published posthumously (1851) under the editorship of Dr. A. A. Gould, with an anatomical chapter by Dr. Joseph Leidy of Philadelphia. The illustrations were copperplates mostly engraved by Alexander Lawson. They have perhaps never been surpassed for scientific fidelity combined with artistic excellence.
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Membership
Amos Binney was president of the Boston Society of Natural History from 1843 to 1847.
Personality
Binney was a handsome man of dignified presence, over medium height, with dark eyes and black hair. A somewhat formal and reticent manner concealed a generous and friendly nature. He possessed the art of writing amusing and descriptive letters to perfection.
Interests
Binney was fond of pictures and a generous patron of art.
Connections
In 1827 Binney married a cousin, Mary Ann Binney. Of their five children the third, William Greene Binney, continued and extended his father's scientific work with ability, succeeding him as the chief authority on American land mollusks.