John Muir - Naturalist, Birthday and Childhood
John Muir's Personal Details
John Muir was a famous American naturalist, author and an advocate of wildlife preservation
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | April 21, 1838 |
| Died on | December 24, 1914 |
| Nationality | American, Scottish |
| Famous | Environmentalists, Miscellaneous, Naturalist, Scottish Men |
| Ideologies | Environmentalists |
| Spouses | Louisa Wanda Strentzel |
| Siblings | Ann, Daniel, David, Joanna, Margaret, Mary, Sarah |
| Childrens | Helen Muir Funk, Wanda Muir Hanna |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Dunbar |
| Born Country | Scotland |
| Religion | Deist |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Daniel Muir |
| Mother | Ann Gilrye |
| Sun Sign | Taurus |
| Born in | Dunbar |
| Famous as | Naturalist |
| Died at Age | 76 |
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John Muir's photo
Who is John Muir?
John Muir, also known as the ‘Father of National Parks’, was a famous American conservationist, writer, naturalist and explorer, who promoted the conservation of wildlife in the United States of America and around the world. His books and essays narrate his personal experiences with nature and encourage people to support his cause of preserving the environment. Millions of his books were sold around the world and his fervent activism has helped in the preservation of the Sequoia National Park and the Yosemite Valley. He also founded the ‘Sierra Club’, which to date is one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States of America. Towards the end of his life, he devoted most of his time in efforts towards safeguarding the Western forests and even implored the U.S. Congress to help pass the National Park Bill. Along with the support of politicians, leaders and congressmen, he mobilized opinions to help preserve enormous wildlife areas. His writings are frequently discussed by a number of modern day conservationists today and inspire countless individuals who are looking to follow his footsteps.
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Childhood & Early Life
John Muir was the third of the eight children born to Ann Gilrye and Daniel Muir, in Dunbar, Scotland.
When he was a young boy, he enjoyed hunting birds’ nests and re-enacting Scottish battles. He had a very strict and religious upbringing and was able to recite the whole of the New Testament and the Old Testament by-heart, at the age of 11.
As he was a spiritual child from the beginning, he was also fond of nature. This led him to study botany, chemistry and the life-sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although he never graduated from the university, he had acquired enough knowledge to help him with his works.
In order to avoid being pressganged in the military, he spent the summer of 1863 wandering through the swamps around Lake Huron and collecting plants. Till the next five years, he found work at a sawmill along with his brother. It was during this time, he penned ‘A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf’.
After a near-death experience, he relocated to Havana and spent his time visiting botanical gardens and studying shells. He then boarded a ship to New York and reserved passage to California, where his life as an explorer would begin.
Later Life
He visited Yosemite and worked as a shepherd, climbed mountains and hiked the Bloody Canyon to Mono Lake. Since he loved to invent things, he designed a water-powered mill and built a cabin along Yosemite, where he lived for two years.
In 1872, after an earthquake woke Muir in the morning, he studied the rockslides triggered by the earthquakes and studied talus piles, unlike the other residents of the area, who fled.
From 1873 to 1874, he studied plant life in the Yosemite area and also indulged himself in field studies along the western border of the Sierra and the isolated groves of the Giant Sequoia.
He travelled to Alaska in 1879 and became the first person to explore the Glacier Bay. This was later named after him and is now known as the ‘Muir Glacier’. He returned to explore Southeast Alaska even further in 1880.
In 1888, he travelled to Mt. Rainier to recover from ill health. During this time, he wrote, ‘Ascent of Mount Rainier’. Two years later, he submitted articles, ‘The Treasure of the Yosemite’ and ‘Features of the Proposed National Park’ to the Century Magazine, which enabled the U.S. Congress to pass the conservation bill, based on his recommendations in the two articles.
In 1892, Muir co-founded the ‘Sierra Club’ for mountain enthusiasts. Muir was made the club’s president, a post he held till his death.
Three years later, the club discussed the founding of ‘national forest reservations’, which came to be known as ‘National Forests’. In 1903, President Roosevelt visited the Yosemite along with Muir. Even before they could step into the park, Muir managed to influence Roosevelt that it would be better for the park to be under federal control rather than state control, due to their negligence.
Thus, in 1906, the ‘Sierra Club’ became instrumental in transferring the state control of ‘Yosemite National Park’ to federal control. Around this time, the Congress also relocated the Mariposa Grove and the Yosemite Valley into the park.
He documented his wildlife experiences at the Sierra and more in the book, ‘First Summer in the Sierra’, in 1911 and spent the rest of his time reading the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, studying geology and hiking. Two years later, he authored the book, ‘The Story of My Boyhood and Youth’.
Major Works
Throughout his life, his written works played a dominant role in getting his views across and earning support for his cause. Of these written works, his essays were of great interest to the general public and earned him a great deal of admiration. Today, a number of his essays are even available online in order to reach out to a wider audience. These include; ‘Alaska: The Discovery of Glacier Bay’, ‘Living Glaciers of California’, ‘The New Sequoia Forests of California’, ‘Features of the Proposed Yosemite National Park’ and the ‘The Wild Sheep of the Sierra’.
Awards & Achievements
He was posthumously inducted into the ‘California Hall of Fame’ on December 6, 2006.
Personal Life & Legacy
At the age of 40, he married Louisa Strentzel and the couple went on to have two daughters. It is believed that he was a loving husband and a doting father and would often take his daughters on his trips.
He passed away due to pneumonia in Los Angeles and at the time of his death, he was survived by his daughters and 10 grand-children.
Today, the ‘Sierra Club’ has over 1.3 million members and has helped establish a number of wildlife reserves.
‘John Muir Day’ is celebrated on April 21 in California each year. He also has a number of places named after him including; Mount Muir, Muir’s Peak, Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, California and John Muir Elementary School.
Muir’s image can be seen on a 5-cent stamp issued on April 29, 1964, designed by Rudolph Wendelin.
Trivia
‘Muirite’ a mineral, is named after this famous American naturalist, author and wildlife preserver.
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John Muir biography timelines
- // 21st Apr 1838John Muir was the third of the eight children born to Ann Gilrye and Daniel Muir, in Dunbar, Scotland.
- // 1863In order to avoid being pressganged in the military, he spent the summer of 1863 wandering through the swamps around Lake Huron and collecting plants. Till the next five years, he found work at a sawmill along with his brother. It was during this time, he penned ‘A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf’.
- // 1872In 1872, after an earthquake woke Muir in the morning, he studied the rockslides triggered by the earthquakes and studied talus piles, unlike the other residents of the area, who fled.
- // 1873 To 1874From 1873 to 1874, he studied plant life in the Yosemite area and also indulged himself in field studies along the western border of the Sierra and the isolated groves of the Giant Sequoia.
- // 1879 To 1880He travelled to Alaska in 1879 and became the first person to explore the Glacier Bay. This was later named after him and is now known as the ‘Muir Glacier’. He returned to explore Southeast Alaska even further in 1880.
- // 1888In 1888, he travelled to Mt. Rainier to recover from ill health. During this time, he wrote, ‘Ascent of Mount Rainier’. Two years later, he submitted articles, ‘The Treasure of the Yosemite’ and ‘Features of the Proposed National Park’ to the Century Magazine, which enabled the U.S. Congress to pass the conservation bill, based on his recommendations in the two articles.
- // 1892In 1892, Muir co-founded the ‘Sierra Club’ for mountain enthusiasts. Muir was made the club’s president, a post he held till his death.
- // 1903Three years later, the club discussed the founding of ‘national forest reservations’, which came to be known as ‘National Forests’. In 1903, President Roosevelt visited the Yosemite along with Muir. Even before they could step into the park, Muir managed to influence Roosevelt that it would be better for the park to be under federal control rather than state control, due to their negligence.
- // 1906Thus, in 1906, the ‘Sierra Club’ became instrumental in transferring the state control of ‘Yosemite National Park’ to federal control. Around this time, the Congress also relocated the Mariposa Grove and the Yosemite Valley into the park.
- // 1911He documented his wildlife experiences at the Sierra and more in the book, ‘First Summer in the Sierra’, in 1911 and spent the rest of his time reading the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, studying geology and hiking. Two years later, he authored the book, ‘The Story of My Boyhood and Youth’.
- // 24th Dec 1914He passed away due to pneumonia in Los Angeles and at the time of his death, he was survived by his daughters and 10 grand-children.
- // 29th Apr 1964Muir’s image can be seen on a 5-cent stamp issued on April 29, 1964, designed by Rudolph Wendelin.
- // 6th Dec 2006He was posthumously inducted into the ‘California Hall of Fame’ on December 6, 2006.
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John Muir's FAQ
What is John Muir birthday?
John Muir was born at 1838-04-21
When was John Muir died?
John Muir was died at 1914-12-24
Where was John Muir died?
John Muir was died in Los Angeles
Which age was John Muir died?
John Muir was died at age 76
Where is John Muir's birth place?
John Muir was born in Dunbar
What is John Muir nationalities?
John Muir's nationalities is American, Scottish
What is John Muir ideologies?
John Muir's ideologies is Environmentalists
Who is John Muir spouses?
John Muir's spouses is Louisa Wanda Strentzel
Who is John Muir siblings?
John Muir's siblings is Ann, Daniel, David, Joanna, Margaret, Mary, Sarah
Who is John Muir childrens?
John Muir's childrens is Helen Muir Funk, Wanda Muir Hanna
What was John Muir universities?
John Muir studied at University of Wisconsin-Madison
What is John Muir's religion?
John Muir's religion is Deist
Who is John Muir's father?
John Muir's father is Daniel Muir
Who is John Muir's mother?
John Muir's mother is Ann Gilrye
What is John Muir's sun sign?
John Muir is Taurus
How famous is John Muir?
John Muir is famouse as Naturalist