John Richardson (1787-1865)

Authors

  • C. Stuart Houston

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic2296

Keywords:

Animal taxonomy, Biographies, Coasts, Expeditions, Explorers, Franklin, Sir John, 1786-1847, History, Mapping, Natural history, Plant taxonomy, Richardson, 1787-1865, Shorelines, Amundsen Gulf region, N.W.T., Great Bear Lake region, Great Bear Lake, Mackenzie Bay region, N.W.T./Yukon

Abstract

Sir John Richarson first achieved fame as a surgeon and naturalist with the two arctic land expeditions led by John Franklin in 1819-22 and 1825-27. A true generalist, Richardson was competent in geology, mammalogy, ichthyology - a soon became knowledgeable in ornithology. He wrote three of the four volumes of Fauna Boreali-Americana, and edited zoological appendices for the voyages of Parry, Ross, Back, Beechey, Kellett, and Belcher. A formidable ichthyologist who described 43 still-accepted genera and over 200 new species of fish, he was also a key member of the Strickland Committee, which set the rules of zoological nomenclature. ... His name is perpetuated by numerous plants, fish, birds, and mammals (including Richardson's ground squirrel), and by such geographical features as the Richardson Mountains and Richardson River. ...

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Published

1983-01-01

Issue

Section

Arctic Profiles