John William Weidemeyer
Encyclopedia
John William Weidemeyer was an author and entomologist.
, king of Westphalia. When John was still young, the family moved to New York City. Among his first teachers was Alexander T. Stewart, and he completed his education at the Columbia College grammar school. For several years he taught at various seminaries in Ohio
, but subsequently settled in New York City, where he entered on a business career. He made collections of lepidoptera
, and discovered several important species, among which was the Limenitis weidemeyerii
(Weidemeyer's Admiral) of the Adirondack mountains
. His large collection was purchased by the museum in Ratisbon, Germany. In connection with the study of entomology
, he published Catalogue of North-American Butterflies (Philadelphia, 1864).
, and at one point he was preparing Cæsar and Cleopatra, an acting drama. Weidemeyer also published Real and Ideal: a Collection of Metrical Compositions by John W. Montclair (Philadelphia, 1865); Themes and Translations (New York, 1867); American Fish, and how to catch Them (1885); and From Alpha to Omega (1889).
Biography
In Germany, his father had been an officer in the bodyguards of Jérôme BonaparteJérôme Bonaparte
Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte, French Prince, King of Westphalia, 1st Prince of Montfort was the youngest brother of Napoleon, who made him king of Westphalia...
, king of Westphalia. When John was still young, the family moved to New York City. Among his first teachers was Alexander T. Stewart, and he completed his education at the Columbia College grammar school. For several years he taught at various seminaries in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but subsequently settled in New York City, where he entered on a business career. He made collections of lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
, and discovered several important species, among which was the Limenitis weidemeyerii
Limenitis weidemeyerii
The Weidemeyer's Admiral is a butterfly from the Nymphalinae subfamily, in western North America.-Distribution:...
(Weidemeyer's Admiral) of the Adirondack mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
. His large collection was purchased by the museum in Ratisbon, Germany. In connection with the study of entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
, he published Catalogue of North-American Butterflies (Philadelphia, 1864).
Writings
He contributed to the Christian Inquirer and the Atlantic Monthly, and prepared political articles for various journals. In 1841 he wrote a play entitled The Vagabonds, which was produced at the Franklin Theatre in New York City and the Arch Street Theatre in PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and at one point he was preparing Cæsar and Cleopatra, an acting drama. Weidemeyer also published Real and Ideal: a Collection of Metrical Compositions by John W. Montclair (Philadelphia, 1865); Themes and Translations (New York, 1867); American Fish, and how to catch Them (1885); and From Alpha to Omega (1889).