John muir biography youtube leonardo

Scottish-American naturalist (–)

This article not bad about the Scottish-American naturalist. Be directed at other people with the by far name, see John Muir (disambiguation).

John Muir
Muir c.&#;
Born	()April 21, Dunbar, Scotland
Died	December 24, () (aged&#;76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma&#;mater	University of Wisconsin–Madison
Occupations	Farmer inventor naturalist philosopher writer botanist zoologist geologist environmentalist
Spouse	Louisa Strentzel &#; &#; (m.&#;&#x;&#;&#x;)&#;
Children	2

John Muir (MURE; Apr 21, &#;&#; December 24, ),^[1] too known as "John of justness Mountains" and "Father of honesty National Parks",^[2] was a Scottish-born American^{[3][4]:&#;42&#;}naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, realist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early encourage for the preservation of boondocks in the United States.

His books, letters and essays recital his adventures in nature, mainly in the Sierra Nevada, possess been read by millions. Tiara activism helped to preserve greatness Yosemite Valley and Sequoia Municipal Park, and his example has served as an inspiration in favour of the preservation of many block out wilderness areas.

The Sierra Mace, which he co-founded, is boss prominent American conservation organization. Unite his later life, Muir dedicated most of his time abrupt his wife and the maintenance of the Western forests. Type part of the campaign hear make Yosemite a national preserve, Muir published two landmark in the matter of a payment on wilderness preservation in The Century Magazine, "The Treasures holiday the Yosemite" and "Features illustrate the Proposed Yosemite National Park"; this helped support the eats for US Congress to yielding a bill in establishing Waterfall National Park.^[5] The spiritual topquality and enthusiasm toward nature verbalised in his writings has ecstatic readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to educational preserve large nature areas.^[6]

John Moor 1 has been considered "an motive to both Scots and Americans".^[7] Muir's biographer, Steven J.

Character, believes that Muir has turn "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity", both political and recreational. Orang-utan a result, his writings pour out commonly discussed in books direct journals, and he has over and over again been quoted by nature photographers such as Ansel Adams.^[8] "Muir has profoundly shaped the become aware of categories through which Americans put up with and envision their relationships plea bargain the natural world", writes Holmes.^[9]

Muir was noted for being alteration ecological thinker, political spokesman, arm environmental advocate, whose writings became a personal guide into personality for many people, making fulfil name "almost ubiquitous" in representation modern environmental consciousness.

According endure author William Anderson, Muir exemplified "the archetype of our undividedness with the earth",^[10] while annalist Donald Worster says he considered his mission was "saving depiction American soul from total renounce to materialism".^[11]:&#;&#; On April 21, , the first John Moor 1 Day was celebrated in Scotland, which marked the th call of his birth, paying awe to the conservationist.

Early life

Boyhood in Scotland

John Muir was in the blood in Dunbar, Scotland, in elegant three-story stone building now aged as a museum. He was the third of eight offspring of Daniel Muir and Ann Gilrye; their other children were Margaret, Sarah, David, Daniel, Ann and Mary (twins), and greatness American-born Joanna.

His earliest experiences were of taking short walks with his grandfather when noteworthy was three.^[12] In his recollections, he described his boyhood pursuits, which included fighting, either impervious to re-enacting romantic battles from grandeur Wars of Scottish Independence unheard of just wrestling on the recreational area, and hunting for birds' nests (ostensibly to one-up his enrolment as they compared notes shine who knew where the near were located).^{[13]:&#;25,&#;37&#;} Author Amy Aristo notes that he began culminate "love affair" with nature term young, and implies that conduct may have been in warmth to his strict religious nurture.

"His father believed that anything that distracted from Bible studies was frivolous and punishable." However the young Muir was clean "restless spirit" and especially "prone to lashings".^[14] As a ant boy, Muir became fascinated glossed the East Lothian landscape, limit spent a lot of securely wandering the local coastline put forward countryside.

It was during that time that he became commiserating in natural history and loftiness works of Scottish naturalist Conqueror Wilson.

Although he spent authority majority of his life instruct in America, Muir never forgot government roots in Scotland. He set aside a strong connection with consummate birthplace and Scottish identity all the time his life and was oftentimes heard talking about his youth spent amid the East Lothian countryside.

He greatly admired ethics works of Thomas Carlyle instruct poetry of Robert Burns; fair enough was known to carry top-hole collection of poems by Vaudevillian during his travels through rectitude American wilderness. He returned be acquainted with Scotland on a trip herbaceous border , where he met facial appearance of his Dunbar schoolmates become more intense visited the places of youth that were etched effect his memory.^[7] He never absent his Scottish accent since purify was already 11 years a mixture of when he and his kinsfolk emigrated to America.^[15]

Immigration to America

In , Muir's family immigrated tender the United States, starting splendid farm near Portage, Wisconsin, entitled Fountain Lake Farm.

It has been designated a National Redletter Landmark.^[16] Stephen Fox recounts dump Muir's father found the Service of Scotland insufficiently strict flash faith and practice, leading used to their immigration and joining simple congregation of the CampbelliteRestoration Migration, called the Disciples of Christ.^[17]:&#;7&#; By the age of 11, the young Muir had knowledgeable to recite "by heart gleam by sore flesh" all methodical the New Testament and maximum of the Old Testament.^[4]:&#;30&#; Addition maturity, while remaining a heartily spiritual man, Muir may hold changed his orthodox beliefs.

Elegance wrote, "I never tried make abandon creeds or code second civilization; they went away bazaar their own accord without going any consciousness of loss." Out in his writings, he asserted the conventional image of pure Creator "as purely a man-made article as any puppet raise a half-penny theater".^{[18]:&#;95,&#;&#;}

When he was 22 years old, Muir registered at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, paying his own way meant for several years.

There, under practised towering black locust tree near North Hall, Muir took monarch first botany lesson. A one student plucked a flower non-native the tree and used blow a fuse to explain how the great locust is a member trip the pea family, related join the straggling pea plant. Cardinal years later, the naturalist Naturalist described the day in enthrone autobiography.

"This fine lesson fascinated me and sent me here today and gone tom to the woods and meadows in wild enthusiasm".^[13]:&#;&#; As top-hole freshman, Muir studied chemistry corresponding Professor Ezra Carr and coronet wife Jeanne; they became long-lasting friends and Muir developed excellent lasting interest in chemistry president the sciences.^{[11]:&#;76&#;} Muir took alteration eclectic approach to his studies, attending classes for two duration but never being listed superior than a first-year student advantage to his unusual selection collide courses.

Records showed his go one better than status as "irregular gent" vital, even though he never tag, he learned enough geology obscure botany to inform his posterior wanderings.^{[19]:&#;36&#;}

In , his brother Jurist left Wisconsin and moved make Southern Ontario (then known laugh Canada West in the In partnership Canadas), to avoid the author during the US Civil Battle.

Muir left school and traveled to the same region include , and spent the informant, summer, and fall exploring honesty woods and swamps, and aggregation plants around the southern reaches of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay.^{[11]:&#;85,&#;92&#;} Muir hiked along the Effluence Escarpment, including much of today's Bruce Trail.

With his wealth running low and winter congenial, he reunited with his fellow-man Daniel near Meaford, Ontario, who persuaded him to work criticism him at the sawmill very last rake factory of William Trout and Charles Jay. Muir ephemeral with the Trout family sky an area called Trout Dimple, south of Meaford, on leadership Bighead River.^[20] While there, sharp-tasting continued "botanizing", exploring the show and bogs, collecting and cataloging plants.

One source appears equal indicate he worked at prestige mill/factory until the summer touch on ,^{[19]:&#;37&#;} while another says do something stayed on at Trout Impression until after a fire treated it down in February ^[21]

In March , Muir returned blow up the United States, settling loaded Indianapolis to work in fine wagon wheel factory.

He established valuable to his employers in that of his inventiveness in rising the machines and processes; let go was promoted to supervisor, mind paid $25 per week.^[4]:&#;48&#; Underneath early-March , an accident denatured the course of his life: a tool he was somewhere to stay slipped and struck him bind the eye.

The file slipped and cut the cornea in vogue his right eye and proof his left eye sympathetically failed.^[22] He was confined to top-notch darkened room for six weeks to regain his sight, disturbed about whether he would excise up blind. When he regained his sight, "he saw high-mindedness world—and his purpose—in a another light".

Muir later wrote, "This affliction has driven me essay the sweet fields. God has to nearly kill us occasionally, to teach us lessons".^[14] Unearth that point on, he wilful to "be true to [himself]" and follow his dream wait exploration and study of plants.^{[18]:&#;97&#;}

In September , Muir undertook unadorned walk of about 1, miles (1,&#;km) from Kentucky to Florida, which he recounted in coronet book A Thousand-Mile Walk molest the Gulf.

He had ham-fisted specific route chosen, except perfect go by the "wildest, leafiest, and least trodden way Uproarious could find".^[23] When Muir alighted at Cedar Key, he began working for Richard Hodgson funny story Hodgson's sawmill. However, three generation after accepting the job inspect Hodgson's, Muir almost died souk a malarial sickness.

After cost three months in an frequently delirious state, Muir's condition best such that he was jerky to move about the Hodgson's house and look outside. Pointless to their unending kindness hill caring for his life, Moorland stated that he "doubtless be under an obligation my life"^[24] to the Hodgsons.

One evening in early Jan , Muir climbed onto description Hodgson house roof to observe the sunset.

He saw a- ship, the Island Belle, coupled with learned it would soon nurture sailing for Cuba.^{[25]:&#;,&#;&#;} Muir boarded the ship, and while handset Havana, he spent his noontide studying shells and flowers paramount visiting the botanical garden subtract the city.^{[26]:&#;56&#;} Afterwards, he sailed to New York City flourishing booked passage to California.^{[19]:&#;40–41&#;} Barred enclosure , Muir served as smashing guide and artist for magnanimity United States Coast and Geodesic Survey on the survey be fond of the 39th parallel across probity Great Basin of Nevada become more intense Utah.^[27][28]

Explorer of nature

California

Experiencing Yosemite

Finally resolve in San Francisco, Muir like a flash left for a week-long call on to Yosemite, a place noteworthy had only read about.

Foresight it for the first at a rate of knots, Muir notes that "He was overwhelmed by the landscape, scrambling down steep cliff faces enhance get a closer look weightiness the waterfalls, whooping and inconceivable at the vistas, jumping uninterruptedly from flower to flower."^[14] Good taste later returned to Yosemite station worked as a shepherd pine a season.

He climbed boss number of mountains, including Religion Peak and Mount Dana, become peaceful hiked an old trail used up Bloody Canyon to Mono Reservoir.

Muir built a small chalet along Yosemite Creek,^[29]:&#;&#; designing blow so that a section give an account of the stream flowed through organized corner of the room as follows he could enjoy the rise of running water.

He quick in the cabin for link years^[30]:&#;&#; and wrote about that period in his book First Summer in the Sierra (). Muir's biographer, Frederick Turner, reproduction Muir's journal entry upon foremost visiting the valley and writes that his description "blazes free yourself of the page with the genuine force of a conversion experience".^[25]:&#;&#;

Friendships

During these years in Yosemite, Heath was unmarried, often unemployed, change no prospects for a occupation, and had "periods of anguish", writes naturalist author John Tallmadge.

In he married Louisa Strentzel. He went into business promote 10 years with his father-in-law managing the orchards on influence family acre farm in Martinez, California. John and Louisa esoteric two daughters, Wanda Muir Hanna and Helen Muir Funk. Bankruptcy was sustained by the unaffected environment and by reading excellence essays of naturalist author Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote be aware of the very life that Heath was then living.

On shivaree into the back country surrounding Yosemite, he traveled alone, sharp "only a tin cup, unmixed handful of tea, a idle of bread, and a simulation of Emerson."^{[31]:&#;52–53&#;} He usually fatigued his evenings sitting by pure campfire in his overcoat, exercise Emerson under the stars. Laugh the years passed, he became a "fixture in the valley", respected for his knowledge exhaust natural history, his skill since a guide, and his glowing storytelling.^{[31]:&#;53&#;} Visitors to the concavity often included scientists, artists, move celebrities, many of whom forceful a point of meeting converge Muir.

During his time distill the University of Wisconsin, Heath took classes under Charles Gyrate. Allen, with whom he became lifelong friends, sharing a devotion of natural sciences.^[32] Allen would move to California in topmost become the principal of dignity California State Normal School (now San Jose State University), Moor 1 gave several lectures at integrity normal school, and Allen hitched Muir in several mountain hikes.^[32]

Muir maintained a close friendship mend 38 years with William Keith, a California landscape painter.

They were both born the identical year in Scotland and merged a love for the territory of California.^{[citation needed][33]}

In , abaft Muir had lived in Waterfall for three years, Emerson, vacate several friends and family, alighted in Yosemite during a outward appearance of the Western United States.^{[34]:&#;–46&#;} The two men met, discipline according to Tallmadge, "Emerson was delighted to find at rank end of his career probity prophet-naturalist he had called result in so long ago And rationalize Muir, Emerson's visit came corresponding a laying on of hands."^{[31]:&#;53&#;} Emerson spent one day free Muir, and he offered him a teaching position at University, which Muir declined.

Muir subsequent wrote, "I never for on the rocks moment thought of giving stop up God's big show for clean up mere profship!"^{[31]:&#;53&#;}

Muir also spent leave to another time with photographer Carleton Watkins significant studied his photographs of Yosemite.^[35]

Geological studies and theories

Pursuit of rule love of science, especially geology, often occupied his free past.

Muir soon became convinced ensure glaciers had sculpted many work at the features of the Falls Valley and surrounding area. That notion was in strong falsity to the accepted contemporary possibility, promulgated by Josiah Whitney (head of the California Geological Survey), which attributed the formation hark back to the valley to a ruinous earthquake.

As Muir's ideas broad, Whitney tried to discredit Moorland by branding him as key amateur. But Louis Agassiz, magnanimity premier geologist of the gift, saw merit in Muir's burden and lauded him as "the first man I have sharpwitted found who has any equal conception of glacial action".^[36] Eliminate , Muir discovered an quiescent alpine glacier below Merced Heart, which helped his theories appeal to acceptance.

A large earthquake focused near Lone Pine in Athlete Valley strongly shook occupants grip Yosemite Valley in March Leadership quake woke Muir in prestige early morning, and he ran out of his cabin "both glad and frightened", exclaiming, "A noble earthquake!" Other valley settlers, who believed Whitney's ideas, the heebie-jeebies that the quake was top-hole prelude to a cataclysmic thickening of the valley.

Muir locked away no such fear and at once made a moonlit survey admire new talus piles created mass earthquake-triggered rockslides.^[37] This event emancipated more people to believe flimsy Muir's ideas about the log of the valley.^{[clarification needed]}

Botanical studies

In addition to his geologic studies, Muir also investigated the mill life of the Yosemite extra.

In and , he flat field studies along the prevarication flank of the Sierra difference the distribution and ecology translate isolated groves of Giant Redwood. In , the American Swirl for the Advancement of Technique published Muir's paper on magnanimity subject.^[38]

Pacific Northwest

Between and , Moor 1 made seven trips to Alaska, as far as Unalaska station Barrow.^[39] Muir, Mr.

Young (Fort Wrangell missionary) and a genre of Native American Guides cardinal traveled to Alaska in challenging were the first Euro-Americans^[40] call by explore Glacier Bay. Muir Glacier was later named after him. He traveled into British University a third of the tantamount up the Stikine River, likening its Grand Canyon to "a Yosemite that was a million miles long".^[41] Muir recorded put the lid on glaciers along the river's course.^[42]

He returned for further explorations pull southeast Alaska in and drop was with the party divagate landed on Wrangel Island pile on the USS Corwin and so-called that island for the Leagued States.

Meir schneider story of martin

He documented that experience in journal entries nearby newspaper articles—later compiled and reduction into his book The Coast of the Corwin.^[43] In rearguard seven years of managing interpretation Strentzel fruit ranch in Fort Valley, California, his health began to suffer. He returned unexpected the hills to recover, uplift Mount Rainier in Washington alight writing Ascent of Mount Rainier.

Activism

Preservation efforts

Establishing Yosemite National Park

Muir threw himself into the nature-lover role with great vigor. Agreed envisioned the Yosemite area pointer the Sierra as pristine lands.^[44] He thought the greatest menace to the Yosemite area extra the Sierra was domesticated livestock—especially domestic sheep, which he referred to as "hoofed locusts".

Happening June , the influential colligate editor of The Century publication, Robert Underwood Johnson, camped interchange Muir in Tuolumne Meadows countryside saw firsthand the damage straight large flock of sheep confidential done to the grassland. Author agreed to publish any morsel Muir wrote on the angle of excluding livestock from glory Sierra high country.

He besides agreed to use his effect to introduce a bill resist Congress to make the Waterfall area into a national restricted area, modeled after Yellowstone National Fall-back.

On September 30, , nobility US Congress passed a account that essentially followed recommendations stray Muir had suggested in span Century articles, "The Treasures be in opposition to the Yosemite" and "Features pointer the Proposed National Park", both published in ^[45][44] But come within reach of Muir's dismay, the bill undone Yosemite Valley under state stack, as it had been because the s.

Co-founding the Sierra Club

Main article: Sierra Club

In precisely , Professor Henry Senger, unembellished philologist at the University personal California, Berkeley, contacted Muir tweak the idea of forming dinky local 'alpine club' for clamp lovers. Senger and San Francisco attorney Warren Olney sent give rise to invitations "for the purpose invite forming a 'Sierra Club'.

Civil. John Muir will preside". In the past May 28, , the culminating meeting of the Sierra Billy was held to write an arrangement of incorporation. One week succeeding Muir was elected president, Author Olney was elected vice-president, cranium a board of directors was chosen that included David Drummer Jordan, president of the additional Stanford University.

Muir remained the man until his death 22 ripen later.^{[4]:&#;–&#;[46]}

The Sierra Club immediately grudging efforts to reduce Yosemite Formal Park by half, and began holding educational and scientific meetings. At one meeting in justness fall of that included Moor 1, Joseph LeConte, and William Concentration.

Dudley, the Sierra Club subject the idea of establishing 'national forest reservations', which were afterward called National Forests. The Sierra Club was active in rectitude successful campaign to transfer Waterfall National Park from state resign yourself to federal control in The game to preserve Hetch Hetchy Vale was also taken up in and out of the Sierra Club, with adequate prominent San Francisco members injurious the fight.

Eventually a referendum was held that overwhelmingly instructive the Sierra Club behind probity opposition to Hetch Hetchy Dam.^[46]

Preservation vs conservation

In July , Fell became associated with Gifford Pinchot, a national leader in dignity conservation movement. Pinchot was magnanimity first head of the Collective States Forest Service and wonderful leading spokesman for the acceptable use of natural resources gather the benefit of the grouping.

His views eventually clashed junk Muir's and highlighted two diverse views of the use time off the country's natural resources. Pinchot saw conservation as a source of managing the nation's evident resources for long-term sustainable profitable use. As a professional granger, his view was that "forestry is tree farming", without destroying the long-term viability of justness forests.^[47] Muir valued nature mention its spiritual and transcendental accessories.

In one essay about authority National Parks, he referred contact them as "places for approach, inspiration, and prayers." He commonly encouraged city dwellers to acquaintance nature for its spiritual refreshment. Both men opposed reckless striking while the iron of natural resources, including clear-cutting of forests. Even Muir fкted the need for timber pole the forests to provide protect, but Pinchot's view of wasteland management was more resource-oriented.^[47]

Their congeniality ended late in the season of when Pinchot released unblended statement to a Seattle making supporting sheep grazing in timber reserves.

Muir confronted Pinchot spell demanded an explanation. When Pinchot reiterated his position, Muir phonetic him: "I don't want pleb thing more to do come to mind you". This philosophical divide in a minute expanded and split the upkeep movement into two camps: rank "preservationists", led by Muir; post Pinchot's camp, who used significance term "conservation".

The two soldiers debated their positions in typical magazines, such as Outlook, Harper's Weekly, Atlantic Monthly, World's Work, and Century. Their contrasting views were highlighted again when representation United States was deciding bon gr to dam Hetch Hetchy Depression.

Pinchot favored damming the ravine as "the highest possible loft which could be made look after it". In contrast, Muir state, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! As on top form dam for water-tanks the people's cathedrals and churches, for inept holier temple has ever antique consecrated by the hearts mislay man".^[47]

In , Muir accompanied browbeat executive E.

H. Harriman bear esteemed scientists on the renowned exploratory voyage along the Alaska coast aboard the luxuriously refitted foot (76&#;m) steamer, the George W. Elder. He later relied on his friendship with Diplomatist to pressure Congress to jacket conservation legislation.^{[citation needed]}

In , Skipper Theodore Roosevelt accompanied Muir intersection a visit to Yosemite.

Naturalist joined Roosevelt in Oakland, Calif., for the train trip give confidence Raymond. The presidential entourage fortify traveled by stagecoach into character park. While traveling to high-mindedness park, Muir told the manager about state mismanagement of dignity valley and rampant exploitation lady the valley's resources.

Even formerly they entered the park, inaccuracy was able to convince Diplomat that the best way come to an end protect the valley was try federal control and management.

After entering the park and sight the magnificent splendor of high-mindedness valley, the president asked Naturalist to show him the ideal Yosemite.

Muir and Roosevelt crush off largely by themselves celebrated camped in the back society. The duo talked late chomp through the night, slept in representation brisk open air of Glacier Point, and were dusted from one side to the ot a fresh snowfall in ethics morning. It was a dim Roosevelt never forgot.^[48][49] He adjacent told a crowd, "Lying pleasantsounding at night under those embellished Sequoias was like lying renovate a temple built by inept hand of man, a church grander than any human master builder could by any possibility build."^[50] Muir, too, cherished the bivouacking trip.

"Camping with the Gaffer was a remarkable experience", significant wrote. "I fairly fell boring love with him".^[50]

Muir then accrued efforts by the Sierra Bludgeon to consolidate park management. Invoice Congress transferred the Mariposa Garden and Yosemite Valley to depiction park.^[51]

Nature writer

In his life, Heath published six volumes of handbills, all describing explorations of naive settings.

Four additional books were published posthumously. Several books were subsequently published that collected essays and articles from various cornucopia. Miller writes that what was most important about his facts was not their quantity, however their "quality". He notes meander they have had a "lasting effect on American culture featureless helping to create the want and will to protect instruct preserve wild and natural environments".^[19]:&#;&#;

His first appearance in print was by accident, writes Miller; clever person he did not grasp submitted, without his permission facial appearance awareness, a personal letter quick his friend Jeanne Carr, chronicling Calypso borealis, a rare efflorescence he had encountered.

The copy was published anonymously, identified likewise having been written by draft "inspired pilgrim".^[19]:&#;&#; Throughout his profuse years as a nature man of letters, Muir frequently rewrote and catholic on earlier writings from sovereignty journals, as well as duration published in magazines.

He much compiled and organized such under writings as collections of essays or included them as gallop of narrative books.^[19]:&#;&#;

Jeanne Carr: reviewer and mentor

Muir's friendship with Jeanne Carr had a lifelong weight on his career as unornamented naturalist and writer. They chief met in the fall conduct operations , when, at age 22, he entered a number intelligent his homemade inventions in leadership Wisconsin State Agricultural Society Usefulness.

Carr, a fair assistant, was asked by fair officials be acquainted with review Muir's exhibits to have a view over if they had merit. She thought they did and "saw in his entries evidence break into genius worthy of special recognition", notes Miller.^{[19]:&#;33&#;} As a emulsion, Muir received a diploma with the addition of a monetary award for government handmade clocks and thermometer.^[52]:&#;1&#; Sooner than the next three years after a long time a student at the Home of Wisconsin, he was befriended by Carr and her hoard, Ezra, a professor at class same university.

According to Moorland biographer Bonnie Johanna Gisel, say publicly Carrs recognized his "pure mettle, unsophisticated nature, inherent curiosity, profound acumen, and independent thought". Jeanne Carr, 35 years of expand, especially appreciated his youthful pneuma, along with his acceptance countless "religious truths" that were undue like her own.^[52]:&#;2&#;

Muir was commonly invited to the Carrs' home; he shared Jeanne's love cataclysm plants.

In , he keep upright Wisconsin to begin exploring blue blood the gentry Canadian wilderness and, while nigh, began corresponding with her get there his activities. Carr wrote Naturalist in return and encouraged him in his explorations and publicity, eventually having an important force over his personal goals.

Authorized one point she asked Moorland to read a book she felt would influence his reasonable, Lamartine's The Stonemason of Revere Point. It was the legend of a man whose progress she hoped would "metabolize shoulder Muir", writes Gisel, and "was a projection of the people she envisioned for him". According to Gisel, the story was about a "poor man get a feel for a pure heart", who fragment in nature "divine lessons keep from saw all of God's creatures interconnected".^[52]:&#;3&#;

After Muir returned to greatness United States, he spent character next four years exploring Waterfall, while at the same stretch writing articles for publication.

Nigh those years, Muir and Carr continued corresponding. She sent multitudinous of her friends to Falls to meet Muir and "to hear him preach the message of the mountains", writes Gisel. The most notable was green and author Ralph Waldo Writer. The importance of Carr, who continually gave Muir reassurance become more intense inspiration, "cannot be overestimated", adds Gisel.

It was "through sovereignty letters to her that crystalclear developed a voice and purpose". She also tried to encourage Muir's writings by submitting monarch letters to a monthly paper for publication. Muir came should trust Carr as his "spiritual mother", and they remained circle for 30 years.^[52]:&#;6&#; In only letter she wrote to Naturalist while he was living be grateful for Yosemite, she tried to hold back him from despairing as figure out his purpose in life.^{[52]:&#;43&#;}

The assess of their friendship was foremost disclosed by a friend goods Carr's, clergyman and writer Frizzy.

Wharton James. After obtaining copies of their private letters implant Carr, and despite pleadings deseed Muir to return them, pacify instead published articles about their friendship, using those letters in that a primary source. In sidle such article, his focus was Muir's debt to Carr, stating that she was his "guiding star" who "led him jolt the noble paths of philosophy, and then kept him there".^{[53]:&#;87–88&#;}

John Charles Van Dyke and Dix Strong Van Dyke

John Charles Forerunner Dyke was an author stomach Professor of Art at Rutgers College (now Rutgers, State Dogma of New Jersey).

His nephew Dix Strong Van Dyke esoteric gone to Daggett, California inconspicuously seek his fortune. Like her majesty uncle, Dix was an penny-a-liner, who wrote Daggett: Life solution a Mojave Frontier Town (Creating the North American Landscape). Closet Muir found his way necessitate Daggett and had many conversations with the uncle and nephew Van Dyke at the Dix ranch.

This likely had plug effect on his writings. Wreath daughter Helen married Frank Buel and lived in Daggett.

Writing becomes his work

Muir's friend, biologist Henry Fairfield Osborn, writes go Muir's style of writing sincere not come to him without a hitch, but only with intense pains. "Daily he rose at o'clock, and after a simple jug of coffee labored incessantly.

flair groans over his labors, sharp-tasting writes and rewrites and interpolates". Osborn notes that he more advanced using the simplest English jargon, and therefore admired above grow weaker the writings of Carlyle, Author and Thoreau. "He is on the rocks very firm believer in Author and starts by reading greatly of this author".^{[54]:&#;29&#;} His miss lonelyhearts, Marion Randall Parsons, also eminent that "composition was always arrange and laborious for him.

Scold sentence, each phrase, each chat, underwent his critical scrutiny, troupe once but twenty times formerly he was satisfied to severe it stand". Muir often booming her, "This business of penmanship books is a long, dull, endless job".^{[54]:&#;33&#;}

Miller speculates that Naturalist recycled his earlier writings mock due to his "dislike in shape the writing process".

He adds that Muir "did not satisfaction in the work, finding it laborious and tedious". He was as a rule unsatisfied with the finished outcome, finding prose "a weak implement for the reality he wished to convey".^[19]:&#;&#; However, he was prodded by friends and cap wife to keep writing settle down as a result of their influence he kept at abundant, although never satisfied.

Muir wrote in , "No amount pay for word-making will ever make spick single soul to 'know' these mountains. One day's exposure coalesce mountains is better than top-hole cartload of books".^{[55]:&#;xviii&#;} In put the finishing touches to of his essays, he gave an example of the deficiencies of writing versus experiencing nature.^[56]

Philosophical beliefs

Nature and theology

Muir believed walk to discover truth, he corrosion turn to what he estimated were the most accurate multiplicity.

In his book, The Figure of My Boyhood and Youth (), he writes that lasting his childhood, his father effortless him read the Bible the whole number day. Muir eventually memorized three-fourths of the Old Testament most important all of the New Testament.^{[13]:&#;20&#;} Muir's father read Josephus's War of the Jews to downy the culture of first-century Judaea, as it was written newborn an eyewitness, and illuminated righteousness culture during the period prescription the New Testament.^{[57]:&#;43&#;} But introduce Muir became attached to distinction American natural landscapes he explored, Williams notes that he began to see another "primary provenance for understanding God: the Precise of Nature".

According to Colonist, in nature, especially in character wilderness, Muir was able get on the right side of study the plants and animals in an environment that good taste believed "came straight from justness hand of God, uncorrupted be oblivious to civilization and domestication".^{[57]:&#;43&#;} As Tallmadge notes, Muir's belief in that "Book of Nature" compelled him to tell the story lay out "this creation in words common reader could understand".

As precise result, his writings were have it in mind become "prophecy, for [they] sought after to change our angle conclusion vision".^{[31]:&#;53&#;}

Williams notes that Muir's moral and world view rotated overwhelm his perceived dichotomy between the community and nature. From this ahead his core belief that "wild is superior".^{[57]:&#;41&#;} His nature literature became a "synthesis of commonplace theology" with scripture that helped him understand the origins wink the natural world.

According survey Williams, philosophers and theologians much as Thomas Dick suggested defer the "best place to facts the true attributes of idol was in Nature". He came to believe that God was always active in the onset of life and thereby set aside the natural order of decency world.^{[57]:&#;41&#;} As a result, Moorland "styled himself as a Bathroom the Baptist", adds Williams, "whose duty was to immerse hard cash 'mountain baptism' everyone he could".^{[57]:&#;46&#;} Williams concludes that Muir aphorism nature as a great fellow, "revealing the mind of God", and this belief became greatness central theme of his following journeys and the "subtext" be incumbent on his nature writing.^{[57]:&#;50&#;}

During his activity as writer and while woodland in the mountains, Muir enlarged to experience the "presence wait the divine in nature", writes Holmes.^{[9]:&#;5&#;[58]:&#;&#;} His personal letters besides conveyed these feelings of rapture.

Historian Catherine Albanese stated put off in one of his copy, "Muir's eucharist made Thoreau's party on wood-chuck and huckleberry look to be almost anemic". Muir was very fond of Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Emerson. Muir regularly referred to himself as adroit "disciple" of Thoreau.^[59]:&#;&#;

Sensory perceptions brook light

During his first summer wealthy the Sierra as a convoy, Muir wrote field notes turn this way emphasized the role that significance senses play in human perceptions of the environment.

According chisel Williams, he speculated that ethics world was an unchanging body that was interpreted by decency brain through the senses, fairy story, writes Muir, "If the architect were to bestow a advanced set of senses upon varied we would never doubt consider it we were in another pretend "^{[57]:&#;43&#;} While doing his studies of nature, he would backbreaking to remember everything he experiential as if his senses were recording the impressions, until put your feet up could write them in surmount journal.

As a result be keen on his intense desire to recognize facts, he filled his domain journals with notes on snowfall, temperature, and even cloud formations.^{[57]:&#;45&#;}

However, Muir took his journal entries further than recording factual data. Williams notes that the text he recorded amounted to excellent description of "the sublimity censure Nature", and what amounted forget about "an aesthetic and spiritual notebook".

Muir felt that his mission was more than just taperecord "phenomena", but also to "illuminate the spiritual implications of those phenomena", writes Williams. For Naturalist, mountain skies, for example, seemed painted with light, and came to " symbolize divinity".^{[57]:&#;45&#;} Significant often described his observations instruction terms of light.^[60]

Muir biographer Steven Holmes notes that Muir shabby words like "glory" and "glorious" to suggest that light was taking on a religious dimension: "It is impossible to assess too highly the importance of the impression of glory in Muir's available writings, where no other singular image carries more emotional comfort religious weight",^[9]:&#;&#; adding that empress words "exactly parallels its Canaanitic origins", in which biblical publicity often indicate a divine rise with light, as in rectitude burning bush or pillar go along with fire, and described as "the glory of God".^{[9]:&#;&#;[60][58]:&#;24&#;}

Seeing nature renovation home

Muir often used the designation "home" as a metaphor stand for both nature and his regular attitude toward the "natural false itself", notes Holmes.

He commonly used domestic language to genus his scientific observations, as in the way that he saw nature as plan a home for even greatness smallest plant life: "the approximately purple plant, tended by loom over Maker, closed its petals, hunkered low in its crevice last part a home, and enjoyed probity storm in safety".^{[58]:&#;57&#;} Muir besides saw nature as his orthodox home, as when he wrote friends and described the Sierra as "God's mountain mansion".

Let go considered not only the realm as home, however, as earth also felt a closeness uniform to the smallest objects: "The very stones seem talkative, compassionate, brotherly. No wonder when miracle consider that we all own acquire the same Father and Mother".^[60]:&#;&#;

In his later years, he drippy the metaphor of nature in that home in his writings resume promote wilderness preservation.^[29]:&#;1&#;

Not surprisingly, Muir's deep-seated feeling about nature pass for being his true home put on to tension with his parentage at his home in Martinez, California.

He once told practised visitor to his ranch just about, "This is a good stiffen to be housed in aside stormy weather, to write just the thing, and to raise children accumulate, but it is not unfocused home. Up there", pointing eminence the Sierra Nevada, "is angry home".^[4]:&#;74&#;

Native Americans

Muir expressed mixed attitudes towards Native Americans over enthrone life, from sympathy to disfavour.

He saw nature as saint when it was free use man's influence, including Native Americans, but he did not put up with that the landscapes he dear had been shaped by Unbroken Americans for millennia, through depiction use of deliberately-set fires relate to burn-off understory growth.^[61][62][63] His soonest encounters, during his childhood timetabled Wisconsin, were with Winnebago Indians, who begged for food refuse stole his favorite horse.

Satisfy spite of that, he esoteric expressed sympathy for their "being robbed of their lands bracket pushed ruthlessly back into narrower and narrower limits by unfamiliar races who were cutting gale their means of livelihood". King early encounters with the Piute in California left him get the impression ambivalent after seeing their background, which he described as "lazy" and "superstitious".^[64]

Muir wrote of righteousness Miwoks in Yosemite as “most ugly, and some of them altogether hideous" and that “they seemed to have no accomplished place in the landscape, view I was glad to representation them fading out of prudence down the pass.”^[62] Ecofeminist sage Carolyn Merchant has criticized Heath, believing that he wrote slightingly of the Native Americans unquestionable encountered in his early explorations.^[65] Later, after living with Indians, he praised and grew a cut above respectful of their low fix on the wilderness, compared unnoticeably the heavy impact by Continent Americans.^[64] However, in his reminiscences annals, he often describes those take action encounters as "dirty," "irregular" most recent "unnatural."^[60]

Muir was given the Stickeen (Muir's spelling, coastal tribe) reputation "Ancoutahan", meaning "adopted chief".^[66]

In solve to claims about Muir's attitudes about Native Americans, Sierra Baton national Board member Chad Hanson wrote, "Muir wrote repeatedly take into consideration the intelligence and dignity forfeited Native Americans, and honored in all events traditional Indigenous peoples lived bolster peaceful coexistence with Nature impressive wild creatures, expressing his come out that Native peoples ‘rank above’ white settlers, who he progressively described as selfish, base, avoid lacking honor.

This would be seemly a constant theme in Muir's writings, as he attacked dignity dominant white culture's destructive wallet greedy ways, and its anthrosupremacist mindset that placed humans strongly affect all else and recognized ham-fisted intrinsic value in ecosystems plead wildlife species beyond whatever dividend could be gained by exploiting them."^[67]

African Americans

Muir spoke enjoin wrote about the equality disagree with all people, "regardless of tinture, or race",^[68] and wrote be pleased about the immorality of slavery wellheeled his final book, Travels teeny weeny Alaska.^[69] During his time ploy Alaska he also wrote,

how amazement were all children of defer father; sketched the characteristics be unable to find the different races of citizens, showing that no matter in spite of that far apart their countries were, how they differed in skin, size, language, etc.

and clumsy matter how different and putting various the ways in which they got a living, go off at a tangent the white man and categorize the people of the nature were essentially alike, that incredulity all had ten fingers gleam toes and our bodies were the same, whether white, chromatic, black or different colors, come to rest speak different languages.^[70]

In his formerly years, Muir did make thickskinned disparaging remarks about African Americans.

In A Thousand-Mile Walk problem the Gulf, Muir described Person Americans as "well trained" however "making a great deal magnetize noise and doing little job. One energetic white man, essential with a will, would unaffectedly pick as much cotton chimpanzee half a dozen Sambos boss Sallies." Describing the sight suggest two African Americans at nifty campfire, he wrote, "I could see their ivory gleaming go over the top with the great lips, and their smooth cheeks flashing off blockage as if made of window.

Seen anywhere but in description South, the glossy pair would have been taken for fellow devils, but here it was only a Negro and wife at their supper."^[71] Notwithstanding, at no point in Muir's personal journey to the Sea loch did he support or be au fait with with the Southern cause, arresting entreaties from Southern hosts like that which they prodded him.^[72]

In , in light of the repositioning to remove Confederate monuments stare the country, Michael Brune, rectitude executive director of the Sierra Club, reflected on Muir's confusing and controversial legacy and proclaimed that the club would exchange towards investing in racial goodness work and determine which pale its monuments need to rectify renamed or removed.^[73] On July 22, , the Sierra Baton wrote:

Muir was not immune fall foul of the racism peddled by numerous in the early conservation portage.

He made derogatory comments dig up Black people and Indigenous peoples that drew on deeply denial racist stereotypes, though his views evolved later in his vitality. As the most iconic famous person in Sierra Club history, Muir's words and actions carry principally especially heavy weight. They extend to hurt and alienate Local people and people of cast who come into contact converge the Sierra Club.^[73]

Some of Muir's associates cited by Brune endure others, such as Joseph LeConte, David Starr Jordan, and Chemist Fairfield Osborn were closely affiliated to the early eugenics moving in the United States.^[73][74] A number of claim Muir did not wed such beliefs.^[72]

Aaron Mair, who pin down became the first Black skipper of the Sierra Club plank, stated that the contents innermost framing of Muir in Brune's post "are a misrepresentation".

Mair went on to state put off Brune, "did not consult him or the other two Hazy board members before pushing vanguard on what he called dinky “revisionist” and “ahistorical” account be a devotee of Muir's writings, thoughts and life."^[75] Mair, along with two do violence to Sierra Club board members, Lake Hanson and Mary Ann Admiral, wrote a response to Brune's attack on Muir, writing:

while bore of Muir’s colleagues promoted Chalk-white supremacist myths and exclusionary views regarding national parks and forests, Muir spoke out about justness importance of making these areas accessible and encouraging all descendants to experience them, writing, “Few are altogether deaf to primacy preaching of pine trees.

Their sermons on the mountains settle down to our hearts; and allowing people in general could get into got into the woods, uniform for once, to hear glory trees speak for themselves, subset difficulties in the way make merry forest preservation would vanish.” Unwind came to believe deeply greet the equality of all group, writing, “We all flow elude one fountain Soul.

All move backward and forward expressions of one Love. Demigod does not appear, and move out, only from narrow chinks and round bored wells not far from and there in favored races and places.”^[72]

Hetch Hetchy Dam controversy

With population growth continuing in San Francisco, political pressure increased sort out dam the Tuolumne River tend use as a water basin.

Muir passionately opposed the damming of Hetch Hetchy Valley in that he found Hetch Hetchy rightfully stunning as Yosemite Valley.^{[76]:&#;–62&#;} Fell, the Sierra Club and Parliamentarian Underwood Johnson fought against inundating the valley. Muir wrote letter President Roosevelt pleading for him to scuttle the project.

Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, flapping the Interior Department's approval act the Hetch Hetchy right-of-way. Care years of national debate, Taft's successor Woodrow Wilson signed goodness bill authorizing the dam minor road law on December 19, Heath felt a great loss strip the destruction of the gorge, his last major battle.

Unwind wrote to his friend Vernon Kellogg, "As to the losing of the Sierra Park Gorge [Hetch Hetchy] it's hard come to get bear. The destruction of say publicly charming groves and gardens, grandeur finest in all California, goes to my heart."^[77]

Personal life

In , when he was nearing justness age of 40, Muir's associates "pressured him to return take in society".^[14] Soon after he complementary to the Oakland area, put your feet up was introduced by Jeanne Carr to Louisa Strentzel, daughter become aware of a prominent physician and expert with a 2,acre (11&#;km²) production orchard in Martinez, California, northeast of Oakland.

In , back end he returned from a propel to Alaska, Muir and Strentzel married. John Muir went happen to partnership with his father-in-law Bog Strentzel, and for ten period directed most of his forcefulness into managing this large decision farm.^[78] Although Muir was adroit loyal, dedicated husband, and sire of two daughters, "his absolutely remained wild", writes Marquis.

Sovereignty wife understood his needs, extort after seeing his restlessness be inspired by the ranch would sometimes "shoo him back up" to picture mountains. He sometimes took surmount daughters with him.^[14]

The house submit part of the ranch commerce now the John Muir Racial Historic Site.^[79] In addition, ethics W.H.C.

Folsom House, where Moor 1 worked as a printer, testing also listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Places.

Muir became a naturalized citizen get ahead the United States in ^[80]

Death

Muir died, aged 76, at Calif. Hospital^[81] in Los Angeles hasty December 24, , of pneumonia.^[82] He had been in Daggett, California, to see his female child, Helen Muir Funk.

His grandson, Ross Hanna, lived until , when he died at setup ^[83]

Legacy

During his lifetime John Moorland published over articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish clever number of national parks stern he died. Today the cudgel has over &#;million members.

Muir has been called the "patron saint of the American wilderness" and its "archetypal free spirit". "As a dreamer and irregular, his eloquent words changed justness way Americans saw their homeland, forests, seashores, and deserts", aforementioned nature writer Gretel Ehrlich.^[84] Explicit not only led the efforts to protect forest areas gift have some designated as state parks, but his writings blaze "human culture and wild rank as one of humility captain respect for all life".^[26]

Robert Rebuff Johnson, editor of Century Magazine, which published many of Muir's articles, states that he distressed people's appreciation of nature post national parks, which became clean lasting legacy:

The world volition declaration look back to the put on ice we live in and bear in mind the voice of one lamentation in the wilderness and extol the name of John Fell.

He sung the glory returns nature like another Psalmist, keep from, as a true artist, was unashamed of his emotions. Circlet countrymen owe him gratitude kind the pioneer of our custom of national parks. Muir's literature and enthusiasm were the mislead forces that inspired the shipment. All the other torches were lighted from his.^[54]

Muir exalted savage nature over human culture with civilization, believing that all take a crack at was sacred.

Turner describes him as "a man who count on his singular way rediscovered Usa. an American pioneer, an English hero".^[25] The primary aim be alarmed about Muir's nature philosophy, writes Adventurer, was to challenge mankind's "enormous conceit", and in so know-how, he moved beyond the Philosophy of Emerson to a "biocentric perspective on the world".

Of course did so by describing blue blood the gentry natural world as "a inspector of divinity", and his brochures often made nature synonymous bend God.^[26]:&#;&#; His friend, Henry Fairfield Osborn, observed that as skilful result of his religious care, Muir retained "this belief, which is so strongly expressed just the thing the Old Testament, that hobo the works of nature peal directly the work of God".^[54] In the opinion of Enos Mills, a contemporary who fixed Rocky Mountain National Park, Muir's writings were "likely to superiority the most influential force moniker this century".^[54]

Since , the Medical centre of the Pacific has housed the largest collection of Muir's personal papers, including his ravel journals and notebooks, manuscripts, dispatch, drawings and personal library.^[85] Engross , the University of honesty Pacific was given full hold of the Muir collection, which had been expanding over prestige years.

The university has uncluttered John Muir Center for Environmental Studies,^[86] the Muir Experience,^[87] reorganization well as other programs connected to Muir and his crack.

Tributes and honors

California celebrates Ablutions Muir Day on April 21 each year.

Muir was excellence first person honored with first-class California commemorative day when codification signed in created John Heath Day, effective from onward. Heath is one of three group so honored in California, the length of with Harvey Milk Day contemporary Ronald Reagan Day.^[88][89]

Mountain Days, grand musical by Craig Bohmler give orders to Mary Bracken Phillips, celebrates Muir's life and was performed annual in a custom-built amphitheater elation Muir's adult hometown of Martinez, California.^{[90][91][92][93]}

The play Thank God fetch John Muir, by Andrew Dallmeyer is based on his life.^[94][95][96]

The following places are named make sure of Muir:

• Muir Woods also called John Naturalist Park, in Madison, Wisconsin, was designed by G.

  William Longenecker and Richard E Tipple wean away from the University of Wisconsin Panorama Architecture Department. Official dedication pointer John Muir Park took worrying on February 8, Ceremonies putrefy the State Historical Society vacation Wisconsin headquarters building included leadership unveiling of a John Naturalist commemorative stamp.^[][]

• Muir Valley – topping privately owned nature preserve crucial rock climbing area in rectitude Red River Gorge area addendum Kentucky.

  The Valley is valuation acres in size and walled in by over seven miles of majestic cliffs of untouched Corbin Sandstone. The owners, Stack & Liz Weber, chose prestige name, "Muir Valley", to laurels the memory of John Muir.^[]

John Muir was featured on yoke US commemorative postage stamps. Efficient 5-cent stamp issued on Apr 29, , was designed make wet Rudolph Wendelin, and showed Muir's face superimposed on a forest of redwood trees, and blue blood the gentry inscription, "John Muir Conservationist".

Uncluttered cent stamp issued on Feb 3, , was part be totally convinced by the "Celebrate the Century" set attendants, and showed Muir in Falls Valley, with the inscription "John Muir, Preservationist".^[] An image pay for Muir, with the California condor and Half Dome, appears cogitate the California state quarter unconfined in A quotation of surmount appears on the reverse halt of the Indianapolis Prize Lilly Medal for conservation.^[] On Dec 6, , California Governor Poet Schwarzenegger and First Lady Mare Shriver inducted John Muir jerk the California Hall of Praise located at The California Museum for History, Women, and grandeur Arts.

The John Muir Sureness is a Scottish charity ingrained as a membership organization enjoy to conserve wild land unthinkable wild places. It has improved than 11, members internationally.^[]

The Bog Muir Birthplace Charitable Trust problem a Scottish charity whose site is to support John Muir's birthplace in Dunbar, which open in as an interpretative nucleus focused on Muir's work.^[] Unblended statue of Muir as natty boy by the Ukrainian sculpturer Valentin Znoba had been unveil outside the house in

Muirite (a mineral), Erigeron muirii, Carlquistia muirii (two species of aster), Ivesia muirii (a member keep in good condition the rose family), Troglodytes troglodytes muiri (a wren), Ochotona princeps muiri (a pika), Thecla muirii (a butterfly), Calamagrostis muiriana (a Sierra Nevada subalpine-alpine grass)^[] skull Amplaria muiri (a millipede) were all named after John Muir.^[]

In , he was inducted talk over the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.^[]

See also

Works

Books