Merriam, Clinton Hart

Merriam, Clinton Hart (1855–1942) naturalist; born in New York City. The son of a wealthy merchant, he grew up in Locust Grove, N.Y., within view of the Adirondacks. Educated at Yale, he earned a medical degree from Columbia University and practiced medicine for several years before turning full time to natural history. As director of the U.S. Biological Survey from 1885–1910, he oversaw research projects, expeditions, and the building of permanent plant and animal collections. He left government service to pursue his own research interests, and he published works on birds, bears, and Indian folktales.