John J. Audubon (1785-1851)
Born in Haiti, John J. Audubon lived in France and in various states in the United States throughtout his lifetime. He was a gifted artist who preferred observing and painting birds and other wildlife. He began The Birds of America in 1820 and worked diligently to acquire patrons for the project. Published between 1827 and 1838, it contained life-size color print of 189 species and remains the most comprehensive presentation of birds in America. Though he relied on his own observations for much of the work, he also used specimens provided by other naturalists. He generally used dead birds as models, wired into positions to suit his composition. Following completion of The Birds of America, he began work on North American Mammals, published between 1846 and 1854. It was completed by his sons following his death. One of Audubon's followers, George Bird Grinnell, founded the first Audubon Society in 1886, dedicated to increasing awareness of and appreciation for nature.
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