Edward Kern
Encyclopedia
Edward Meyer Kern was born 26 Oct 1822 or 1823 in Philadelphia - the son of John Kern III and Mary Elizabeth Bignell. He was trained as an artist and was appointed to accompany John C. Fremont
on his third expedition in 1845. He was paid $3.00 a day on this trip. He served as cartographer as well as artist, and collected botanical and animal specimens on this journey. (A falcon
he found became the type specimen for its species). In Northern California
, the Fremont Party committed genocide against the Klamath Indians and Kern drew pictures of the result. During the Bear Flag Revolt he was placed in command of Sutter's Fort
. While there, he was appointed to manage funds for aiding the survivors of the Donner Party
and was criticized for his mismanagement of same.
He participated with his brother Richard Kern in Fremont's expedition in the southern Colorado mountains in 1848. A third brother, Benjamin, was killed by Utes
or others during this time. He then explored the Canyon de Chelly.
From 1853 to 1855 he was on the ship "Vincennes" on an expedition to East Asia. The captain, Cadwalader Ringgold
, was declared insane when they reached Hong Kong
. Kern moved to using photography as well as drawing during this trip. Later the expedition landed on the shores of Siberia
, where Kern spent several weeks. They returned home via Tahiti
and San Francisco. In 1858 he sailed for California, Hawaii
, and Japan
, under Captain John Mercer Brooke
. They returned in 1860.
He served for a short time under Fremont in Missouri
, but his commission was revoked and he received no pay for this.
Later Kern established a studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died 23/25 Nov 1863 at his home at 1305 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia
. He was buried in Glenwood Cemetery and later re-interred in New Glenwood Cemetery.
He suffered from epilepsy
from a young age.
His diaries were discovered under the floorboards in an old hotel in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania
. It was many years later when they were made available to David Weber for his book on Richard Kern (brother of Edward). The diary and papers are now held in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
at Yale University
.
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has over eighty of his works. His papers are in the Huntington Library in San Marino, California
.
Kern County, California
and the Kern River
were named after him.
John C. Frémont
John Charles Frémont , was an American military officer, explorer, and the first candidate of the anti-slavery Republican Party for the office of President of the United States. During the 1840s, that era's penny press accorded Frémont the sobriquet The Pathfinder...
on his third expedition in 1845. He was paid $3.00 a day on this trip. He served as cartographer as well as artist, and collected botanical and animal specimens on this journey. (A falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
he found became the type specimen for its species). In Northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, the Fremont Party committed genocide against the Klamath Indians and Kern drew pictures of the result. During the Bear Flag Revolt he was placed in command of Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort
Sutter's Fort State Historic Park is a state-protected park in Sacramento, California which includes Sutter's Fort and the California State Indian Museum. Begun in 1839 and originally called "New Helvetia" by its builder, John Sutter, the fort was a 19th century agricultural and trade colony in...
. While there, he was appointed to manage funds for aiding the survivors of the Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
and was criticized for his mismanagement of same.
He participated with his brother Richard Kern in Fremont's expedition in the southern Colorado mountains in 1848. A third brother, Benjamin, was killed by Utes
Utes
Utes may refer to:*The fictional island in ARMA 2*Ute tribe, indigenous people of North America*Students of the University of Utah*Utah Utes, athletics team of the University of Utah, named after the Ute tribe...
or others during this time. He then explored the Canyon de Chelly.
From 1853 to 1855 he was on the ship "Vincennes" on an expedition to East Asia. The captain, Cadwalader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold
Cadwalader Ringgold was an officer in the United States Navy who served in the United States Exploring Expedition, later headed an expedition to the Northwest and, after initially retiring, returned to service during the Civil War....
, was declared insane when they reached Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. Kern moved to using photography as well as drawing during this trip. Later the expedition landed on the shores of Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, where Kern spent several weeks. They returned home via Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
and San Francisco. In 1858 he sailed for California, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, under Captain John Mercer Brooke
John Mercer Brooke
John Mercer Brooke was an American sailor, engineer, scientist, and educator. He was instrumental in the creation of the Transatlantic Cable, and was a noted marine and military innovator.-Early life and career:...
. They returned in 1860.
He served for a short time under Fremont in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, but his commission was revoked and he received no pay for this.
Later Kern established a studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died 23/25 Nov 1863 at his home at 1305 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, 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,...
. He was buried in Glenwood Cemetery and later re-interred in New Glenwood Cemetery.
He suffered from epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
from a young age.
His diaries were discovered under the floorboards in an old hotel in Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania
Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania
Delaware Water Gap is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located adjacent to the Delaware Water Gap, the pass through which the Lackawanna Corridor and Interstate 80 run across the Pennsylvania-New Jersey border along the Delaware River.The population of Delaware Water...
. It was many years later when they were made available to David Weber for his book on Richard Kern (brother of Edward). The diary and papers are now held in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library was a 1963 gift of the Beinecke family. The building was designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft of the firm of Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, and is the largest building in the world reserved exclusively for the preservation of rare books...
at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has over eighty of his works. His papers are in the Huntington Library in San Marino, California
San Marino, California
San Marino is a small, affluent city in Los Angeles County, California. Incorporated in 1913, the City founders designed the community to be uniquely residential, with expansive properties surrounded by beautiful gardens, wide streets, and well maintained parkways...
.
Kern County, California
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
and the Kern River
Kern River
The Kern River is a river in the U.S. state of California, approximately long. It drains an area of the southern Sierra Nevada mountains northeast of Bakersfield. Fed by snowmelt near Mount Whitney, the river passes through scenic canyons in the mountains and is a popular destination for...
were named after him.
External links
- http://www.reeseco.com/papers/sources.htm "Searching for New Sources in Western History"
- http://books.google.com/books?id=Nne4L9h27RsC&pg=PA349&lpg=PA349&dq=%22Edward+Kern%22&source=web&ots=a-H47ozs-0&sig=9M-Tp5u8IGttcFEdDRYqsgqNxlE&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPR7,M1 Pioneer Photographers of the Far West by Peter E. Palmquist, Thomas R. Kailbourn
- http://www.xmission.com/~octa/DonnerParty/Rescuers.htm#Kern The Donner Party: Rescuers and Others
- http://www.xmission.com/~octa/DonnerParty/FirstReliefDiary.htm#behavior%20of%20Lt.%20Kern Article about Kern's behavior as fund administrator for Donner Party relief