William Couper (naturalist)
Encyclopedia
William Couper was an American entomologist and naturalist
who came to prominence during the later half of the 19th century in Canada
. The better known period of his life spans from the 1850s to 1886.
. He came to Canada
and established himself in Toronto
likely around 1843 (he later noted having lived there for 17 years, and left the city in 1860). A conference by Henry Holmes Croft
, a University College
teacher, spurred him into collecting his first specimens. A few years later his collections of insects and various related structures (nests, cocoons, galleries...) were noticed and praised in The Canadian Journal, an interest he would maintain (1863 he noted these collections to amount to 6 000 specimens). These collections were prized in 1856. Although entomology
and ornithology
(particularly the former) were his main interests, he was, like most scientists of the time, very versatile. In addition to working as a typographer, he owned a small shop where he sold specimens and taxidermy
material. His major publication was a description of 150 Canadian Coleoptera species.
Sometime around 1860 he moved to Quebec City
. There he initiated Léon Abel Provancher
to entomology, and probably taught taxidermy to Charles-Eusèbe Dionne
. In 1863, he was involved with the foundation of the Entomological Society of Canada
, and a few years later, the affiliated society in Quebec, in which Provancher, Louis-Ovide Brunet
and George John Bowles were involved, amongst others. That branch, however, only. lasted a few years. While residing there, he traveled to Côte-Nord
and made the first detailed description of the region. Those notes later served a number of other scientists. He also described 15 new species of Coleoptera, a number of which are still valid. In 1867, Henry J. Morgan called him one of the first Canadian entomologists in his Bibliotheca Canadensis. Before moving to Montreal in 1870, he spent a year (or three) in Ottawa
, what exactly he did is not known (possibly he studied spiders), but he wrote several short papers in The Canadian Entomologist during that period.
It was in to Montreal that he made his most important contribution to Quebec entomology
by being the first president of another affiliate of the Entomological Society of Canada, which lasted to become the Entomological Society of Quebec. He traveled several times more to Côte-Nord, once having to return because his commissioned specimens were lost on the way home, and later collected with Napoléon-Alexandre Comeau
. In 1880 he started publishing The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist, which would stay in publication for 3 years until lack of time forced him to discontinue it. The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist published articles on a wide array of topics, from hunting to Canadian museum.
The next year Couper moved to Troy
, in the state of New York
, where he joined his son. He would publish a few more papers in American magazines and journals before his death, probably ca. 1890. He was known to also have a daughter, but the names of his children, or of their mother, are unknown.
owns many of his Coleoptera specimens, and a number of moth
s. Laval
also owns a large collection of insects and a number of higher animals. Other naturalized specimens are scattered between various institutions, from the Royal Ontario Museum
to the Smithsonian Institution
. He remained all his life an enthusiastic promoter of entomology.
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
who came to prominence during the later half of the 19th century in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The better known period of his life spans from the 1850s to 1886.
Biography
Effectively nothing is known of Couper's early life, although it is speculated that he was born in Sheldon, VermontSheldon, Vermont
Sheldon is a town in Franklin County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,990 at the 2000 census. It contains the unincorporated village of Sheldon Springs.-Geography:...
. He came to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and established himself in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
likely around 1843 (he later noted having lived there for 17 years, and left the city in 1860). A conference by Henry Holmes Croft
Henry Holmes Croft
Henry Holmes Croft was a British scientist and educator.He contributed to the foundation of the Entomological Society of Canada.-References:* *...
, a University College
University College, University of Toronto
University College is a constituent college of the University of Toronto, created in 1853 specifically as an institution of higher learning free of religious affiliation. It was the founding member of the university's modern collegiate system, and its secularism contrasted with contemporary...
teacher, spurred him into collecting his first specimens. A few years later his collections of insects and various related structures (nests, cocoons, galleries...) were noticed and praised in The Canadian Journal, an interest he would maintain (1863 he noted these collections to amount to 6 000 specimens). These collections were prized in 1856. Although entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
and ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
(particularly the former) were his main interests, he was, like most scientists of the time, very versatile. In addition to working as a typographer, he owned a small shop where he sold specimens and taxidermy
Taxidermy
Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all vertebrate species of animals, including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians...
material. His major publication was a description of 150 Canadian Coleoptera species.
Sometime around 1860 he moved to Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. There he initiated Léon Abel Provancher
Léon Abel Provancher
Léon Abel Provancher was a Canadian Catholic parish priest and naturalist. He studied at the College and Seminary of Nicolet, and was ordained 12 September 1844.-Life:He organized two pilgrimages to Jerusalem, one of which he conducted in person...
to entomology, and probably taught taxidermy to Charles-Eusèbe Dionne
Charles-Eusèbe Dionne
Charles-Eusèbe Dionne , also known as Charles Eusebe or C. E. Dionne, was a French Canadian naturalist and taxidermist. He is considered the first professional French Canadian ornithologist...
. In 1863, he was involved with the foundation of the Entomological Society of Canada
Entomological Society of Canada
The Entomological Society of Canada or Société d’Entomologie du Canada is one of Canada's most historical scientific societies. The society was founded in Toronto on April 16, 1863. The first Council was composed of President Henry Holmes Croft , Secretary Treasurer William Wilson Saunders , and...
, and a few years later, the affiliated society in Quebec, in which Provancher, Louis-Ovide Brunet
Louis-Ovide Brunet
Louis-Ovide Brunet was a French-Canadian botanist and Roman Catholic priest, and is considered one of the founding fathers of Canadian botany....
and George John Bowles were involved, amongst others. That branch, however, only. lasted a few years. While residing there, he traveled to Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...
and made the first detailed description of the region. Those notes later served a number of other scientists. He also described 15 new species of Coleoptera, a number of which are still valid. In 1867, Henry J. Morgan called him one of the first Canadian entomologists in his Bibliotheca Canadensis. Before moving to Montreal in 1870, he spent a year (or three) in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, what exactly he did is not known (possibly he studied spiders), but he wrote several short papers in The Canadian Entomologist during that period.
It was in to Montreal that he made his most important contribution to Quebec entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
by being the first president of another affiliate of the Entomological Society of Canada, which lasted to become the Entomological Society of Quebec. He traveled several times more to Côte-Nord, once having to return because his commissioned specimens were lost on the way home, and later collected with Napoléon-Alexandre Comeau
Napoléon-Alexandre Comeau
Napoléon-Alexandre Comeau was a self-taught naturalist and Canadian government official. The city of Baie-Comeau, Quebec, is named after him , as well as this city's history museum building....
. In 1880 he started publishing The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist, which would stay in publication for 3 years until lack of time forced him to discontinue it. The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist published articles on a wide array of topics, from hunting to Canadian museum.
The next year Couper moved to Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he joined his son. He would publish a few more papers in American magazines and journals before his death, probably ca. 1890. He was known to also have a daughter, but the names of his children, or of their mother, are unknown.
Legacy
Couper's work is little known, both because good chunks of his life are left entirely in the dark and because many of is publications have become exceedingly difficult to locate, particularly The Canadian Sportsman and Naturalist. His specimens have also been scattered, the Lyman Museum of McGill UniversityMcGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
owns many of his Coleoptera specimens, and a number of moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s. Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
also owns a large collection of insects and a number of higher animals. Other naturalized specimens are scattered between various institutions, from the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
to the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. He remained all his life an enthusiastic promoter of entomology.