Elmer Drew Merrill
Encyclopedia
Elmer Drew Merrill was an American
botanist, specializing in the flora of the Asia-Pacific region.
He was born in East Auburn, Maine
, and attended the University of Maine
where he received a B.S.
in 1898. He subsequently joined the United States Department of Agriculture
and served as a USDA botanist in the Philippines
from 1902 to 1923.
He returned to the United States and became the Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley
. In 1929 he moved to New York to become a professor of botany at Columbia University
. He was also the Director of the New York Botanical Garden
from 1929 to 1935. In 1935 he became director of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University
where he remained until his retirement in 1946.
He was known for his extensive study of the taxonomy
of plants from Asia
. His writings included Flora of Manila
published 1912, and The Enumeration of Philippine Flowering Plants published in sections between 1922 and 1926. His final work The Botany of Cook
's Voyages was published in 1954.
He died in Forest Hills, Massachusetts.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist, specializing in the flora of the Asia-Pacific region.
He was born in East Auburn, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and attended the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
where he received a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in 1898. He subsequently joined the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
and served as a USDA botanist in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
from 1902 to 1923.
He returned to the United States and became the Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. In 1929 he moved to New York to become a professor of botany at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He was also the Director of the New York Botanical Garden
New York Botanical Garden
- See also :* Education in New York City* List of botanical gardens in the United States* List of museums and cultural institutions in New York City- External links :* official website** blog*...
from 1929 to 1935. In 1935 he became director of the Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
where he remained until his retirement in 1946.
He was known for his extensive study of the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of plants from Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. His writings included Flora of Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
published 1912, and The Enumeration of Philippine Flowering Plants published in sections between 1922 and 1926. His final work The Botany of Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
's Voyages was published in 1954.
He died in Forest Hills, Massachusetts.