Contributions To The Natural History Of The Coelenterata...
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Contributions To The Natural History Of The Coelenterata; Contributions To The Natural History Of The Coelenterata; Robert Edwards Carter Stearns
Robert Edwards Carter Stearns
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections
such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact,
or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections,
have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works
worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book.
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The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification:
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(Papers)
Robert Edwards Carter Stearns
Robert Edwards Carter Stearns was an American conchologist from Massachusetts. A bibliography of his writings lists about 160 titles, mainly concerning molluscan systematics and distribution, but including several on coelenterates and others appertaining to ethnology, agriculture, and forestry.
Background
Robert was born on February 1, 1827 in Boston, Massachussets, United Sattes, the son of Charles and Sarah (Carter) Stearns. His paternal grandfather was the Rev. Charles Stearns of Lincoln, mentioned by Holmes in The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table, and his first American ancestor was Charles Stearns who became a freeman at Watertown in 1646.
His love of nature, intense from childhood, was fortunately appreciated and shared by his father and the two were frequently tramping and hunting companions.
Education
His education in the Boston public schools, often interrupted by poor health, was followed by mercantile training, but his artistic bent led him, in 1849, to paint a panorama of the Hudson River in a canvas 900 feet long and eight feet wide.
Career
In 1854 Stearns became resident agent for several copper mines in northern Michigan. But mining proved a passing interest, and after he lost his income in the panic of 1857, Stearns sold his Dover farm and migrated to California.
He became a partner in a San Francisco printing business and later attempted independent publication, his first paper in 1859 being a prophetic article on the value of the sugar-beet for California.
As acting editor of the Pacific Methodist he strongly upheld the Union cause in the Civil War and exerted an influence in the state said to have been far from negligible. Possessing considerable administrative capacity he became deputy clerk of the California supreme court, 1862-63, and secretary to the State Board of Harbor Commissioners, 1863-68.
Resigning because of ill health he spent the next two years in the East. Stearns returned to California to serve as secretary to the Board of Regents of the University of California in 1874, and supervised the dignified landscaping of the old campus until illness again impelled his retirement. Even as a boy Stearns had become interested in collecting shells.
His first zoological publication was a list of mollusks of Bolinas Bay. He likewise actively participated in the work of the young and struggling Academy of Natural Sciences, which he joined in 1864, holding many of its offices, and helping to prevent its dissolution after the earthquake of 1868. Thenceforth his scientific labors, particularly in the study of conchology, were unremitting.
In 1869 he participated in a zoological expedition to Florida, and after another ten years again went east. In 1882 he was engaged in research for the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries.
In 1884 he was appointed paleontologist to the United States Geological Survey by John Wesley Powell, and assistant curator of mollusks in the National Museum by Spencer F. Baird.
In 1892 he settled in Los Angeles where he lived in semiinvalidism until his death.
Achievements
Robert Edwards Carter Stearns was famous for his profound studies of numerous mollusca and other animals, living and extinct, that commemorated his name. His famous collection of mollusks was acquired by the National Museum. His was the foundational work on the interesting fossil land-snails of the John Day beds in Oregon.
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
Religion
As acting editor of the Pacific Methodist he strongly upheld the Union cause in the Civil War and exerted an influence in the state said to have been far from negligible.
Membership
He became a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1874.
Personality
Although he suffered often from depression, Stearns's outstanding characteristics were vivacity, enthusiasm, versatility, a lively sense of humor, and a deep attachment to friends, especially exemplified in an intense and enduring love for his father.
Connections
He was married to Mary Ann Libby, the daughter of Oliver Libby of Boston, on March 28, 1850. He was survived by one daughter.