John Sterling Kingsley
Encyclopedia
John Sterling Kingsley ) was an American
professor of biology
and zoology
.
son of Lewis and Julia A. (née Kingman) Kingsley. His father, who was then County Judge and Surrogate, moved to Norwich in 1856 where Kingsley was raised and received his early education at private schools. From his earliest years he took a keen interest in science, especially chemistry.
After attending schools in Norwich, Connecticut
and Cincinnatus he decided to become an engineer. He refused an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis, and chose instead to attend Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. The death of his father forced him to leave the Institute before earning his degree. The engineering training he did receive though enabled him to earn enough money to resume his education in 1873 with the junior class at Williams College
. It was around this time that he took a side interest in medicine, devoting much his spare time to the subject when not engaged his normal class work.
His connection with the Natural History Society of the college, however, caused him to decide upon biology as his life study; and upon his graduation in 1875 enrolled at the Peabody Academy of Science
at Salem, Massachusetts
, where he studied with Dr. A. S. Packard. Here his work was entirely in the line of systematic zoology, especially in the group of Crustacea, that he published a number of papers on.
, to work as an assistant on the newly formed United States Entomological Commission
. The following year he attended the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science
, where he studied general morphology. During this time he supported himself by drawing scientific illustrations and writing articles for various science journals. Kingsley then attended Princeton University
and the College of New Jersey, receiving his Doctorate of Science from the latter in 1885. In 1887 he was named Professor of Zoology at the University of Indiana and two years years later accepted the chair of Biology at the University of Nebraska. He resigned in 1891 to take a year off to study in Europe, primarily at the University of Freiburg
under Dr. Robert Wiedersheim
. Upon his return in 1892, Kingsley was offered the chair of Biology at Tufts College where he would write nearly all the biological articles for Johnson's Universal Cyclopaedia. From 1913 to 1921 Kingsley served as professor of zoology at the University of Illinois.
Over his career Kingsley would author over three-hundred scientific articles and numerous books on such subjects as vertebrae zoology, comparative zoology and the anatomy of vertebrates. In 1902 he translated German
zoologist Richard Hertwig’s
ein Handbuch der Zoologie. Kingsley was one-time editor of the publications Standard Natural History (1884), and The American Naturalist (1886-96). He had served over the years as president of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at Lincoln, and the American Morphological Society at Johns Hopkins University
, and held memberships in a number of other scientific organizations both nationally and internationally.
. She was the daughter of a Salem produce dealer who several years after her birth served in the American Civil War
. Kingsley's only child, Mary Winship, was born in 1883 at Melrose, Massachusetts
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professor of biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
.
Earrly Life
John Kingsley was born on 7 April, 1854 at Cincinnatus, New YorkCincinnatus, New York
Cincinnatus is a town in Cortland County, New York, U.S. The population was 1,051 at the 2000 census. The town is named after an important Roman general, Cincinnatus....
son of Lewis and Julia A. (née Kingman) Kingsley. His father, who was then County Judge and Surrogate, moved to Norwich in 1856 where Kingsley was raised and received his early education at private schools. From his earliest years he took a keen interest in science, especially chemistry.
After attending schools in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
and Cincinnatus he decided to become an engineer. He refused an appointment to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis, and chose instead to attend Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. The death of his father forced him to leave the Institute before earning his degree. The engineering training he did receive though enabled him to earn enough money to resume his education in 1873 with the junior class at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
. It was around this time that he took a side interest in medicine, devoting much his spare time to the subject when not engaged his normal class work.
His connection with the Natural History Society of the college, however, caused him to decide upon biology as his life study; and upon his graduation in 1875 enrolled at the Peabody Academy of Science
Peabody Academy of Science
The Peabody Academy of Science in Salem, Massachusetts, "was organized in 1868, having received funds ... from George Peabody of London ... for the 'promotion of science and useful knowledge in the county of Essex.'" It was incorporated by "Asa Gray, of Cambridge, William C. Endicott, of Salem,...
at Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
, where he studied with Dr. A. S. Packard. Here his work was entirely in the line of systematic zoology, especially in the group of Crustacea, that he published a number of papers on.
Career
In 1878 Kingsley moved to Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, to work as an assistant on the newly formed United States Entomological Commission
United States Entomological Commission
The United States Entomological Commission was established by an Act of Congress in 1877 as a department under the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories headed by Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden. The commission was created to find a solution for the Rocky Mountain...
. The following year he attended the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
, where he studied general morphology. During this time he supported himself by drawing scientific illustrations and writing articles for various science journals. Kingsley then attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and the College of New Jersey, receiving his Doctorate of Science from the latter in 1885. In 1887 he was named Professor of Zoology at the University of Indiana and two years years later accepted the chair of Biology at the University of Nebraska. He resigned in 1891 to take a year off to study in Europe, primarily at the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
under Dr. Robert Wiedersheim
Robert Wiedersheim
Robert Wiedersheim was a German anatomist who is famous for publishing a list of 86 “vestigial organs” in his book 'The Structure of Man: An Index to His Past History'....
. Upon his return in 1892, Kingsley was offered the chair of Biology at Tufts College where he would write nearly all the biological articles for Johnson's Universal Cyclopaedia. From 1913 to 1921 Kingsley served as professor of zoology at the University of Illinois.
Over his career Kingsley would author over three-hundred scientific articles and numerous books on such subjects as vertebrae zoology, comparative zoology and the anatomy of vertebrates. In 1902 he translated German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
zoologist Richard Hertwig’s
Richard Hertwig
Richard Wilhelm Karl Theodor Ritter von Hertwig , also Richard Hertwig or Richard von Hertwig, was a German zoologist and professor of 50 years, notable as the first to describe zygote formation as the fusing of spermatozoa inside the membrane of an egg cell during fertilization.Richard Hertwig was...
ein Handbuch der Zoologie. Kingsley was one-time editor of the publications Standard Natural History (1884), and The American Naturalist (1886-96). He had served over the years as president of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences at Lincoln, and the American Morphological Society at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, and held memberships in a number of other scientific organizations both nationally and internationally.
Marriage
John Kinsgley married, on 31 January, 1882, Mary Emma Read of Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. She was the daughter of a Salem produce dealer who several years after her birth served in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Kingsley's only child, Mary Winship, was born in 1883 at Melrose, Massachusetts
Melrose, Massachusetts
-Government:Robert J. Dolan is the mayor. Melrose is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives by Paul Brodeur . Katherine Clark is the state senator for wards 1 through 5 and Thomas McGee is the state senator for wards 6 and 7. Melrose is part of the seventh Congressional...
.