John Cassin: A Life for the Birds

In this installment of ‘Profiles in History,’ we meet a talented artist who dedicated himself to ornithology, even at great personal peril.

John Cassin identified nearly 200 birds, one of which is the Cassin kingbird, named after him. Public Domain

On March 21, 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (ANSP) was founded “for the encouragement and cultivation of the sciences, and the advancement of useful learning.” A year and a half later, one of the Academy’s most important contributors would be born.

The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, 1912. Public Domain