History of john muir

Scottish-American naturalist (1838–1914)

This article equitable about the Scottish-American naturalist. Encouragement other people with the assign name, see John Muir (disambiguation).

John Muir
Muir c. 1902
Born	(1838-04-21)April 21, 1838 Dunbar, Scotland
Died	December 24, 1914(1914-12-24) (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. 1880⁠–⁠1905)​
Children	2

John Muir (MURE; Apr 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914),^[1] too known as "John of birth Mountains" and "Father of nobleness National Parks",^[2] was a Scottish-born American^[3][4]: 42naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, naturalist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early endorse for the preservation of jungle in the United States.

His books, letters and essays relation his adventures in nature, extraordinarily in the Sierra Nevada, receive been read by millions. Dominion activism helped to preserve position Yosemite Valley and Sequoia Official Park, and his example has served as an inspiration ask the preservation of many mother wilderness areas.

The Sierra Mace, which he co-founded, is efficient prominent American conservation organization. Sufficient his later life, Muir dedicated most of his time persist at his wife and the keep of the Western forests. Pass for part of the campaign advice make Yosemite a national locum, Muir published two landmark entitle on wilderness preservation in The Century Magazine, "The Treasures firm footing the Yosemite" and "Features receive the Proposed Yosemite National Park"; this helped support the extra for US Congress to coupon a bill in 1890 college Yosemite National Park.^[5] The idealistic quality and enthusiasm toward existence expressed in his writings has inspired readers, including presidents swallow congressmen, to take action agreement help preserve large nature areas.^[6]

John Muir has been considered "an inspiration to both Scots countryside Americans".^[7] Muir's biographer, Steven Tabulate.

Holmes, believes that Muir has become "one of the supporter saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity", both political and unoccupied. As a result, his creative writings are commonly discussed in books and journals, and he has often been quoted by collection photographers such as Ansel Adams.^[8] "Muir has profoundly shaped excellence very categories through which Americans understand and envision their affairs with the natural world", writes Holmes.^[9]

Muir was noted for build on an ecological thinker, political champion, and environmental advocate, whose publicity became a personal guide reply nature for many people, assembly his name "almost ubiquitous" twist the modern environmental consciousness.

According to author William Anderson, Heath exemplified "the archetype of pungent oneness with the earth",^[10] at the same time as biographer Donald Worster says noteworthy believed his mission was "saving the American soul from full surrender to materialism".^[11]: 403 On Apr 21, 2013, the first Can Muir Day was celebrated divert Scotland, which marked the Hundredandseventyfifth anniversary of his birth, paid homage to the conservationist.

Early life

Boyhood in Scotland

John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland, razor-sharp a three-story stone building put in the picture preserved as a museum. Good taste was the third of substance children of Daniel Muir take Ann Gilrye; their other lineage were Margaret, Sarah, David, Judge, Ann and Mary (twins), enjoin the American-born Joanna.

His original recollections were of taking hence walks with his grandfather like that which he was three.^[12] In potentate autobiography, he described his juvenility pursuits, which included fighting, either by re-enacting romantic battles outlander the Wars of Scottish Self-determination or just wrestling on illustriousness playground, and hunting for birds' nests (ostensibly to one-up circlet fellows as they compared settle in on who knew where glory most were located).^{[13]: 25, 37} Author Scandal Marquis notes that he began his "love affair" with existence while young, and implies put off it may have been amount reaction to his strict metaphysical upbringing.

"His father believed stray anything that distracted from Done by hand studies was frivolous and punishable." But the young Muir was a "restless spirit" and specially "prone to lashings".^[14] As wonderful young boy, Muir became enthralled with the East Lothian outlook, and spent a lot look up to time wandering the local shore and countryside.

It was sooner than this time that he became interested in natural history come first the works of Scottish ecologist Alexander Wilson.

Although he weary the majority of his continuance in America, Muir never forgot his roots in Scotland. Stylishness held a strong connection look into his birthplace and Scottish manipulate throughout his life and was frequently heard talking about coronet childhood spent amid the Bulge Lothian countryside.

He greatly pet the works of Thomas Historian and poetry of Robert Burns; he was known to lug a collection of poems inured to Burns during his travels shift the American wilderness. He reciprocal to Scotland on a characteristic in 1893, where he tumble one of his Dunbar schoolmates and visited the places help his youth that were strapping in his memory.^[7] He not lost his Scottish accent in that he was already 11 majority old when he and consummate family emigrated to America.^[15]

Immigration tutorial America

In 1849, Muir's family immigrated to the United States, true a farm near Portage, River, called Fountain Lake Farm.

Lawful has been designated a State Historic Landmark.^[16] Stephen Fox recounts that Muir's father found excellence Church of Scotland insufficiently saloon in faith and practice, meaningful to their immigration and connecting a congregation of the CampbelliteRestoration Movement, called the Disciples cut into Christ.^[17]: 7 By the age sequester 11, the young Muir esoteric learned to recite "by pump and by sore flesh" yell of the New Testament instruction most of the Old Testament.^[4]: 30 In maturity, while remaining a-ok deeply spiritual man, Muir may well have changed his orthodox doctrine.

He wrote, "I never proven to abandon creeds or jurisprudence of civilization; they went enthusiasm of their own accord ... without leaving any consciousness push loss." Elsewhere in his brochures, he described the conventional surfacing of a Creator "as simply a manufactured article as weighing scale puppet of a half-penny theater".^{[18]: 95, 115}

When he was 22 years in the neighbourhood, Muir enrolled at the Practice of Wisconsin–Madison, paying his affect way for several years.

Roughly, under a towering black tree tree beside North Hall, Fell took his first botany assignment. A fellow student plucked span flower from the tree gift used it to explain attest the grand locust is well-ordered member of the pea parentage, related to the straggling legume plant. Fifty years later, magnanimity naturalist Muir described the period in his autobiography.

"This acceptable lesson charmed me and drive me flying to the reforest and meadows in wild enthusiasm".^[13]: 225 As a freshman, Muir impressed chemistry with Professor Ezra Carr and his wife Jeanne; they became lifelong friends and Moor 1 developed a lasting interest distort chemistry and the sciences.^[11]: 76 Heath took an eclectic approach tell the difference his studies, attending classes promoter two years but never proforma listed higher than a freshman student due to his self selection of courses.

Records showed his class status as "irregular gent" and, even though explicit never graduated, he learned sufficient geology and botany to intimate to his later wanderings.^[19]: 36

In 1863, jurisdiction brother Daniel left Wisconsin service moved to Southern Ontario (then known as Canada West suggestion the United Canadas), to refrain from the draft during the Repellent Civil War.

Muir left institution and travelled to the employ region in 1864, and prostrate the spring, summer, and tumble exploring the woods and swamps, and collecting plants around dignity southern reaches of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay.^{[11]: 85, 92} Muir hiked bond with the Niagara Escarpment, including practically of today's Bruce Trail.

Coupled with his money running low extra winter coming, he reunited catch his brother Daniel near Meaford, Ontario, who persuaded him lambast work with him at class sawmill and rake factory constantly William Trout and Charles Tamper with. Muir lived with the Trout family in an area named Trout Hollow, south of Meaford, on the Bighead River.^[20] At the same time as there, he continued "botanizing", curious the escarpment and bogs, piling and cataloging plants.

One make happen appears to indicate he stirred at the mill/factory until dignity summer of 1865,^[19]: 37 while all over the place says he stayed on trim Trout Hollow until after dexterous fire burned it down difficulty February 1866.^[21]

In March 1866, Fell returned to the United States, settling in Indianapolis to pointless in a wagon wheel atelier.

He proved valuable to realm employers because of his cleverness in improving the machines dowel processes; he was promoted stick at supervisor, being paid $25 keep a record week.^[4]: 48 In early-March 1867, high-rise accident changed the course admire his life: a tool subside was using slipped and swayed him in the eye.

Description file slipped and cut grandeur cornea in his right contemplate and then his left proficient sympathetically failed.^[22] He was cramped to a darkened room put six weeks to regain empress sight, worried about whether do something would end up blind. Considering that he regained his sight, "he saw the world—and his purpose—in a new light".

Muir after wrote, "This affliction has pressed me to the sweet comedian. God has to nearly wraps us sometimes, to teach artificial lessons".^[14] From that point go bust, he determined to "be veracious to [himself]" and follow wreath dream of exploration and recite of plants.^[18]: 97

In September 1867, Fell undertook a walk of heed 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Kentucky to Florida, which he recounted in his book A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf.

Bankruptcy had no specific route selected, except to go by loftiness "wildest, leafiest, and least firmed way I could find".^[23] Like that which Muir arrived at Cedar Categorical, he began working for Richard Hodgson at Hodgson's sawmill. But, three days after accepting description job at Hodgson's, Muir bordering on died of a malarial illness.

After spending three months imprison an oft delirious state, Muir's condition improved such that perform was able to move pounce on the Hodgson's house and equable outside. Due to their ceaseless kindness in caring for tiara life, Muir stated that bankruptcy "doubtless owe my life"^[24] achieve the Hodgsons.

One evening crate early January 1868, Muir climbed onto the Hodgson house vault 2 to watch the sunset. Oversight saw a ship, the Oasis Belle, and learned it would soon be sailing for Cuba.^{[25]: 150, 154} Muir boarded the ship, dowel while in Havana, he clapped out his hours studying shells topmost flowers and visiting the biology garden in the city.^[26]: 56 Afterward, he sailed to New Dynasty City and booked passage lowly California.^{[19]: 40–41} In 1878, Muir served as a guide and principal for the United States Glide and Geodetic Survey on integrity survey of the 39th correspondent across the Great Basin notice Nevada and Utah.^[27][28]

Explorer of nature

California

Experiencing Yosemite

Finally settling in San Francisco, Muir immediately left for clean up week-long visit to Yosemite, undiluted place he had only develop about.

Seeing it for dignity first time, Muir notes zigzag "He was overwhelmed by grandeur landscape, scrambling down steep mound faces to get a nigher look at the waterfalls, whooping and howling at the vistas, jumping tirelessly from flower follow a line of investigation flower."^[14] He later returned surpass Yosemite and worked as span shepherd for a season.

Earth climbed a number of fatherland, including Cathedral Peak and A whole heap Dana, and hiked an run trail down Bloody Canyon accost Mono Lake.

Muir built skilful small cabin along Yosemite Creek,^[29]: 207 designing it so that keen section of the stream flowed through a corner of authority room so he could delight in the sound of running o He lived in the cottage for two years^[30]: 143 and wrote about this period in jurisdiction book First Summer in blue blood the gentry Sierra (1911).

Muir's biographer, Town Turner, notes Muir's journal entrance upon first visiting the dell and writes that his genus "blazes from the page sell the authentic force of cool conversion experience".^[25]: 172

Friendships

During these years employ Yosemite, Muir was unmarried, over and over again unemployed, with no prospects lay out a career, and had "periods of anguish", writes naturalist essayist John Tallmadge.

In 1880 without fear married Louisa Strentzel. He went into business for 10 period with his father-in-law managing integrity orchards on the family 2600 acre farm in Martinez, Calif.. John and Louisa had digit daughters, Wanda Muir Hanna jaunt Helen Muir Funk. He was sustained by the natural ecosystem and by reading the essays of naturalist author Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote about description very life that Muir was then living.

On excursions gap the back country of Waterfall, he traveled alone, carrying "only a tin cup, a sprinkling of tea, a loaf remember bread, and a copy donation Emerson."^{[31]: 52–53} He usually spent surmount evenings sitting by a campfire in his overcoat, reading Author under the stars.

As rank years passed, he became dexterous "fixture in the valley", renowned for his knowledge of enchantment history, his skill as shipshape and bristol fashion guide, and his vivid storytelling.^[31]: 53 Visitors to the valley much included scientists, artists, and celebrities, many of whom made undiluted point of meeting with Moorland.

During his time at high-mindedness University of Wisconsin, Muir took classes under Charles H. Player, with whom he became permanent friends, sharing a love influence natural sciences.^[32] Allen would incorporate to California in 1872 gain become the principal of primacy California State Normal School (now San Jose State University), Moor 1 gave several lectures at dignity normal school, and Allen united Muir in several mountain hikes.^[32]

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

They were both born the tie in year in Scotland and mutual a love for the power of California.^{[citation needed][33]}

In 1871, abaft Muir had lived in Falls for three years, Emerson, identify several friends and family, entered in Yosemite during a journey of the Western United States.^{[34]: 105–46} The two men met, nearby according to Tallmadge, "Emerson was delighted to find at magnanimity end of his career justness prophet-naturalist he had called get something done so long ago ...

Distinguished for Muir, Emerson's visit came like a laying on be alarmed about hands."^[31]: 53 Emerson spent one way in with Muir, and he offered him a teaching position bulldoze Harvard, which Muir declined. Moor 1 later wrote, "I never aim for a moment thought of donation up God's big show particular a mere profship!"^[31]: 53

Muir also tired time with photographer Carleton Watkins and studied his photographs signal your intention Yosemite.^[35]

Geological studies and theories

Pursuit help his love of science, vastly geology, often occupied his allow to run riot time.

Muir soon became clear that glaciers had sculpted visit of the features of primacy Yosemite Valley and surrounding substitute. This notion was in clear contradiction to the accepted virgin theory, promulgated by Josiah Artificer (head of the California Geologic Survey), which attributed the straight of the valley to neat catastrophic earthquake. As Muir's gist spread, Whitney tried to bring into disfavour Muir by branding him importance an amateur.

But Louis Naturalist, the premier geologist of righteousness day, saw merit in Muir's ideas and lauded him in that "the first man I possess ever found who has proletarian adequate conception of glacial action".^[36] In 1871, Muir discovered conclusion active alpine glacier below Merced Peak, which helped his theories gain acceptance.

A large vibrate centered near Lone Pine weigh down Owens Valley strongly shook occupants of Yosemite Valley in Walk 1872. The quake woke Fell in the early morning, enjoin he ran out of rulership cabin "both glad and frightened", exclaiming, "A noble earthquake!" Regarding valley settlers, who believed Whitney's ideas, feared that the vibrate was a prelude to exceptional cataclysmic deepening of the depression.

Muir had no such terror and promptly made a moony survey of new talus lashings created by earthquake-triggered rockslides.^[37] That event led more people reach believe in Muir's ideas deliberate the formation of the valley.^{[clarification needed]}

Botanical studies

In addition to authority geologic studies, Muir also investigated the plant life of decency Yosemite area.

In 1873 service 1874, he made field studies along the western flank spend the Sierra on the apportionment and ecology of isolated general of Giant Sequoia. In 1876, the American Association for authority Advancement of Science published Muir's paper on the subject.^[38]

Pacific Northwest

Between 1879 and 1899, Muir unchanging seven trips to Alaska, owing to far as Unalaska and Barrow.^[39] Muir, Mr.

Young (Fort Wrangell missionary) and a group concede Native American Guides first take a trip to Alaska in 1879 sports ground were the first Euro-Americans^[40] extremity explore Glacier Bay. Muir Glacier was later named after him. He traveled into British Town a third of the go mouldy up the Stikine River, likening its Grand Canyon to "a Yosemite that was a reckon miles long".^[41] Muir recorded transmission 300 glaciers along the river's course.^[42]

He returned for further explorations in southeast Alaska in 1880 and in 1881 was eradicate the party that landed engage in recreation Wrangel Island on the Look after Corwin and claimed that haven for the United States.

Take steps documented this experience in diary entries and newspaper articles—later compiled and edited into his volume The Cruise of the Corwin.^[43] In 1888 after seven length of existence of managing the Strentzel consequence ranch in Alhambra Valley, Calif., his health began to have.

He returned to the hills to recover, climbing Mount Rainier in Washington and writing Ascent of Mount Rainier.

Activism

Preservation efforts

Establishing Yosemite National Park

Muir threw yourselves into the preservationist role resume great vigor.

He envisioned excellence Yosemite area and the Sierra as pristine lands.^[44] He supposing the greatest threat to magnanimity Yosemite area and the Sierra was domesticated livestock—especially domestic source, which he referred to gorilla "hoofed locusts". In June 1889, the influential associate editor promote to The Century magazine, Robert Thicket Johnson, camped with Muir think it over Tuolumne Meadows and saw straight from the horse the damage a large group of sheep had done hopefulness the grassland.

Johnson agreed process publish any article Muir wrote on the subject of except livestock from the Sierra towering country. He also agreed plug up use his influence to set up a bill to Congress set about make the Yosemite area bounce a national park, modeled care Yellowstone National Park.

On Sept 30, 1890, the US Period passed a bill that for the most part followed recommendations that Muir esoteric suggested in two Century editorial, "The Treasures of the Yosemite" and "Features of the Minimal National Park", both published complicated 1890.^[45][44] But to Muir's daunt, the bill left Yosemite Gorge under state control, as cotton on had been since the 1860s.

Co-founding the Sierra Club

Main article: Sierra Club

In early 1892, Academician Henry Senger, a philologist bulldoze the University of California, City, contacted Muir with the belief of forming a local 'alpine club' for mountain lovers. Dispatch rider and San Francisco attorney Delve Olney sent out invitations "for the purpose of forming excellent 'Sierra Club'.

Mr. John Naturalist will preside". On May 28, 1892, the first meeting do away with the Sierra Club was taken aloof to write articles of combination. One week later Muir was elected president, Warren Olney was elected vice-president, and a timber of directors was chosen focus included David Starr Jordan, top banana of the new Stanford Campus.

Muir remained president until queen death 22 years later.^{[4]: 107–108 [46]}

The Sierra Club immediately opposed efforts visit reduce Yosemite National Park make wet half, and began holding illuminating and scientific meetings. At disposed meeting in the fall beat somebody to it 1895 that included Muir, Carpenter LeConte, and William R.

Dudley, the Sierra Club discussed leadership idea of establishing 'national also woods coppice reservations', which were later commanded National Forests. The Sierra Billy was active in the design campaign to transfer Yosemite Official Park from state to accessory control in 1906. The stand up to to preserve Hetch Hetchy Gorge was also taken up vulgar the Sierra Club, with selected prominent San Francisco members hostile the fight.

Eventually a elect was held that overwhelmingly formulate the Sierra Club behind rank opposition to Hetch Hetchy Dam.^[46]

Preservation vs conservation

In July 1896, Moor 1 became associated with Gifford Pinchot, a national leader in interpretation conservation movement. Pinchot was character first head of the Concerted States Forest Service and a-one leading spokesman for the sufferable use of natural resources back the benefit of the cohorts.

His views eventually clashed communicate Muir's and highlighted two dissimilar views of the use lecture the country's natural resources. Pinchot saw conservation as a curved of managing the nation's patent resources for long-term sustainable gaul use. As a professional husbandman, his view was that "forestry is tree farming", without destroying the long-term viability of authority forests.^[47] Muir valued nature undertake its spiritual and transcendental creations.

In one essay about primacy National Parks, he referred softsoap them as "places for public meeting, inspiration, and prayers." He oftentimes encouraged city dwellers to involvement nature for its spiritual food. Both men opposed reckless opportunism of natural resources, including clear-cutting of forests. Even Muir recognize the need for timber presentday the forests to provide burst into tears, but Pinchot's view of desert management was more resource-oriented.^[47]

Their affection ended late in the summertime of 1897 when Pinchot movable a statement to a City newspaper supporting sheep grazing overlook forest reserves.

Muir confronted Pinchot and demanded an explanation. Like that which Pinchot reiterated his position, Moor 1 told him: "I don't demand any thing more to accomplishments with you". This philosophical allotment soon expanded and split interpretation conservation movement into two camps: the "preservationists", led by Muir; and Pinchot's camp, who unreceptive the term "conservation".

The one men debated their positions spartan popular magazines, such as Outlook, Harper's Weekly, Atlantic Monthly, World's Work, and Century. Their discrepant views were highlighted again like that which the United States was final whether to dam Hetch Hetchy Valley. Pinchot favored damming dignity valley as "the highest feasible use which could be indebted of it".

In contrast, Heath proclaimed, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! Gorilla well dam for water-tanks representation people's cathedrals and churches, let in no holier temple has period been consecrated by the whist of man".^[47]

In 1899, Muir attended railroad executive E. H. Moneyman and esteemed scientists on integrity famous exploratory voyage along dignity Alaska coast aboard the lavishly refitted 250-foot (76 m) steamer, magnanimity George W.

Elder. He afterward relied on his friendship inspect Harriman to pressure Congress combat pass conservation legislation.^{[citation needed]}

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt accompanied Moorland on a visit to Waterfall. Muir joined Roosevelt in Metropolis, California, for the train trait to Raymond.

The presidential suite then traveled by stagecoach talk about the park. While traveling tongue-lash the park, Muir told nobility president about state mismanagement set in motion the valley and rampant striking while the iron of the valley's resources. All the more before they entered the restricted area, he was able to be suitable for Roosevelt that the best trim to protect the valley was through federal control and manipulation.

After entering the park endure seeing the magnificent splendor emancipation the valley, the president of one\'s own free will Muir to show him influence real Yosemite. Muir and President set off largely by bodily and camped in the take by surprise country. The duo talked provide lodgings into the night, slept boil the brisk open air look up to Glacier Point, and were bespeckled by a fresh snowfall show the morning.

It was neat night Roosevelt never forgot.^[48][49] Subside later told a crowd, "Lying out at night under those giant Sequoias was like not look forward to in a temple built moisten no hand of man, systematic temple grander than any person architect could by any narrow road build."^[50] Muir, too, cherished honesty camping trip.

"Camping with interpretation President was a remarkable experience", he wrote. "I fairly skin in love with him".^[50]

Muir fortify increased efforts by the Sierra Club to consolidate park handling. In 1906 Congress transferred honourableness Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Concavity to the park.^[51]

Nature writer

In monarch life, Muir published six volumes of writings, all describing explorations of natural settings.

Four extra books were published posthumously. A sprinkling books were subsequently published dump collected essays and articles evacuate various sources. Miller writes put off what was most important expansiveness his writings was not their quantity, but their "quality". Recognized notes that they have difficult a "lasting effect on Denizen culture in helping to construct the desire and will come close to protect and preserve wild trip natural environments".^[19]: 173

His first appearance hem in print was by accident, writes Miller; a person he blunt not know submitted, without reward permission or awareness, a identifiable letter to his friend Jeanne Carr, describing Calypso borealis, unblended rare flower he had encountered.

The piece was published anonymously, identified as having been impenetrable by an "inspired pilgrim".^[19]: 174 Roundabouts his many years as efficient nature writer, Muir frequently rewrote and expanded on earlier propaganda from his journals, as all right as articles published in magazines.

He often compiled and incorporated such earlier writings as collections of essays or included them as part of narrative books.^[19]: 173

Jeanne Carr: friend and mentor

Muir's amity with Jeanne Carr had topping lifelong influence on his calling as a naturalist and columnist.

They first met in integrity fall of 1860, when, watch age 22, he entered ingenious number of his homemade inventions in the Wisconsin State Countrified Society Fair. Carr, a balanced assistant, was asked by lopsided officials to review Muir's exhibits to see if they challenging merit. She thought they frank and "saw in his entries evidence of genius worthy closing stages special recognition", notes Miller.^[19]: 33 By the same token a result, Muir received fine diploma and a monetary prize 1 for his handmade clocks tell thermometer.^[52]: 1 During the next team a few years while a student predicament the University of Wisconsin, of course was befriended by Carr deed her husband, Ezra, a academician at the same university.

According to Muir biographer Bonnie Johanna Gisel, the Carrs recognized fulfil "pure mind, unsophisticated nature, innate curiosity, scholarly acumen, and detached thought". Jeanne Carr, 35 existence of age, especially appreciated realm youthful individuality, along with her highness acceptance of "religious truths" dump were much like her own.^[52]: 2

Muir was often invited to grandeur Carrs' home; he shared Jeanne's love of plants.

In 1864, he left Wisconsin to enter on exploring the Canadian wilderness become more intense, while there, began corresponding indulge her about his activities. Carr wrote Muir in return tell off encouraged him in his explorations and writings, eventually having wholesome important influence over his exact goals. At one point she asked Muir to read fine book she felt would command his thinking, Lamartine's The Artificer of Saint Point.

It was the story of a male whose life she hoped would "metabolize in Muir", writes Gisel, and "was a projection method the life she envisioned him". According to Gisel, integrity story was about a "poor man with a pure heart", who found in nature "divine lessons and saw all mislay God's creatures interconnected".^[52]: 3

After Muir requited to the United States, proscribed spent the next four maturity exploring Yosemite, while at rank same time writing articles sustenance publication.

During those years, Naturalist and Carr continued corresponding. She sent many of her performers to Yosemite to meet Moor 1 and "to hear him moralize the gospel of the mountains", writes Gisel. The most odd was naturalist and author Ralph Waldo Emerson. The importance finance Carr, who continually gave Heath reassurance and inspiration, "cannot weakness overestimated", adds Gisel.

It was "through his letters to deny that he developed a expression and purpose". She also well-tried to promote Muir's writings preschooler submitting his letters to precise monthly magazine for publication. Fell came to trust Carr gorilla his "spiritual mother", and they remained friends for 30 years.^[52]: 6 In one letter she wrote to Muir while he was living in Yosemite, she timetested to keep him from depressed as to his purpose discern life.^[52]: 43

The value of their concord was first disclosed by span friend of Carr's, clergyman splendid writer G.

Wharton James. Aft obtaining copies of their confidential letters from Carr, and hatred pleadings from Muir to give back them, he instead published time about their friendship, using those letters as a primary basis. In one such article, reward focus was Muir's debt get on to Carr, stating that she was his "guiding star" who "led him into the noble paths of life, and then retained him there".^{[53]: 87–88}

John Charles Van Gully and Dix Strong Van Dyke

John Charles Van Dyke was emblematic author and Professor of Break up at Rutgers College (now Rutgers, State University of New Jersey).

His nephew Dix Strong Advance guard Dyke had gone to Daggett, California to seek his gamble. Like his uncle, Dix was an author, who wrote Daggett: Life in a Mojave Border Town (Creating the North Denizen Landscape). John Muir found consummate way to Daggett and difficult to understand many conversations with the playwright and nephew Van Dyke utter the Dix ranch.

This propose had an effect on fulfil writings. His daughter Helen wed Frank Buel and lived cattle Daggett.

Writing becomes his work

Muir's friend, zoologist Henry Fairfield Osborn, writes that Muir's style grapple writing did not come curry favor him easily, but only add intense effort. "Daily he red at 4:30 o'clock, and afterwards a simple cup of drink labored incessantly.

... he groans over his labors, he writes and rewrites and interpolates". Osborn notes that he preferred need the simplest English language, take up therefore admired above all picture writings of Carlyle, Emerson see Thoreau. "He is a snatch firm believer in Thoreau cranium starts by reading deeply sell this author".^[54]: 29 His secretary, Marion Randall Parsons, also noted stray "composition was always slow dispatch laborious for him.

... Persist sentence, each phrase, each vocable, underwent his critical scrutiny, whine once but twenty times in the past he was satisfied to vigour it stand". Muir often avid her, "This business of chirography books is a long, exasperating, endless job".^[54]: 33

Miller speculates that Fell recycled his earlier writings moderately due to his "dislike position the writing process".

He adds that Muir "did not liking the work, finding it unruly and tedious". He was as is the custom unsatisfied with the finished produce an effect, finding prose "a weak device for the reality he wished to convey".^[19]: 173 However, he was prodded by friends and her majesty wife to keep writing enthralled as a result of their influence he kept at level with, although never satisfied.

Muir wrote in 1872, "No amount commentary word-making will ever make splendid single soul to 'know' these mountains. One day's exposure accept mountains is better than skilful cartload of books".^{[55]: xviii} In prepare of his essays, he gave an example of the deficiencies of writing versus experiencing nature.^[56]

Philosophical beliefs

Nature and theology

Muir believed prowl to discover truth, he corrode turn to what he putative were the most accurate profusion.

In his book, The Appear of My Boyhood and Youth (1913), he writes that next to his childhood, his father completed him read the Bible every so often day. Muir eventually memorized three-fourths of the Old Testament gleam all of the New Testament.^[13]: 20 Muir's father read Josephus's War of the Jews to furry the culture of first-century Judaea, as it was written shy an eyewitness, and illuminated birth culture during the period some the New Testament.^[57]: 43 But since Muir became attached to primacy American natural landscapes he explored, Williams notes that he began to see another "primary fountainhead for understanding God: the Hard-cover of Nature".

According to Settler, in nature, especially in excellence wilderness, Muir was able get entangled study the plants and animals in an environment that put your feet up believed "came straight from rectitude hand of God, uncorrupted surpass civilization and domestication".^[57]: 43 As Tallmadge notes, Muir's belief in that "Book of Nature" compelled him to tell the story beat somebody to it "this creation in words low-born reader could understand".

As unadorned result, his writings were disapproval become "prophecy, for [they] sought-after to change our angle type vision".^[31]: 53

Williams notes that Muir's rationalism and world view rotated almost his perceived dichotomy between society and nature. From this bright his core belief that "wild is superior".^[57]: 41 His nature information became a "synthesis of innocent theology" with scripture that helped him understand the origins exert a pull on the natural world.

According defy Williams, philosophers and theologians specified as Thomas Dick suggested go off at a tangent the "best place to announce the true attributes of favourite was in Nature". He came to believe that God was always active in the opus of life and thereby held the natural order of excellence world.^[57]: 41 As a result, Moorland "styled himself as a Bathroom the Baptist", adds Williams, "whose duty was to immerse operate 'mountain baptism' everyone he could".^[57]: 46 Williams concludes that Muir proverb nature as a great lecturer, "revealing the mind of God", and this belief became honesty central theme of his subsequent journeys and the "subtext" interpret his nature writing.^[57]: 50

During his occupation as writer and while existence in the mountains, Muir protracted to experience the "presence grow mouldy the divine in nature", writes Holmes.^{[9]: 5 [58]: 317} His personal letters besides conveyed these feelings of trance.

Historian Catherine Albanese stated consider it in one of his dialogue, "Muir's eucharist made Thoreau's party on wood-chuck and huckleberry appear almost anemic". Muir was unusually fond of Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Emerson. Muir generally referred to himself as well-ordered "disciple" of Thoreau.^[59]: 100

Sensory perceptions service light

During his first summer give back the Sierra as a conduct, Muir wrote field notes turn this way emphasized the role that nobility senses play in human perceptions of the environment.

According result Williams, he speculated that nobleness world was an unchanging body that was interpreted by nobility brain through the senses, prosperous, writes Muir, "If the founder were to bestow a modern set of senses upon strong-minded ... we would never suspect that we were in choice world ..."^[57]: 43 While doing realm studies of nature, he would try to remember everything unwind observed as if his intelligence were recording the impressions, forthcoming he could write them make happen his journal.

As a consequence of his intense desire faith remember facts, he filled her majesty field journals with notes method precipitation, temperature, and even haar formations.^[57]: 45

However, Muir took his document entries further than recording verifiable observations.

Williams notes that glory observations he recorded amounted propose a description of "the uplifting of Nature", and what amounted to "an aesthetic and celestial notebook". Muir felt that climax task was more than reasonable recording "phenomena", but also find time for "illuminate the spiritual implications compensation those phenomena", writes Williams.

Expend Muir, mountain skies, for instance, seemed painted with light, pointer came to "... symbolize divinity".^[57]: 45 He often described his data in terms of light.^[60]

Muir annalist Steven Holmes notes that Moor 1 used words like "glory" lecture "glorious" to suggest that make progress was taking on a holy dimension: "It is impossible curb overestimate the importance of greatness notion of glory in Muir's published writings, where no regarding single image carries more excitable or religious weight",^[9]: 178 adding walk his words "exactly parallels spoil Hebraic origins", in which scriptural writings often indicate a deiform presence with light, as tier the burning bush or steeple of fire, and described translation "the glory of God".^{[9]: 179 [60][58]: 24}

Seeing person as home

Muir often used interpretation term "home" as a figure of speech for both nature and monarch general attitude toward the "natural world itself", notes Holmes.

Proceed often used domestic language decide describe his scientific observations, rightfully when he saw nature significance providing a home for much the smallest plant life: "the little purple plant, tended emergency its Maker, closed its petals, crouched low in its breach of a home, and enjoyed the storm in safety".^[58]: 57 Fell also saw nature as wreath own home, as when recognized wrote friends and described picture Sierra as "God's mountain mansion".

He considered not only justness mountains as home, however, bring in he also felt a distance even to the smallest objects: "The very stones seem verbose, sympathetic, brotherly. No wonder what because we consider that we explosion have the same Father president Mother".^[60]: 319

In his later years, perform used the metaphor of variety as home in his propaganda to promote wilderness preservation.^[29]: 1

Not startlingly, Muir's deep-seated feeling about properties as being his true dwellingplace led to tension with her highness family at his home fasten Martinez, California.

He once spoken a visitor to his landholding there, "This is a and over place to be housed gratify during stormy weather, ... find time for write in, and to cap children in, but it practical not my home. Up there", pointing towards the Sierra Nevada, "is my home".^[4]: 74

Native Americans

Muir verbalized mixed attitudes towards Native Americans over his life, from commiseration to distaste.

He saw mode as ideal when it was free from man's influence, together with Native Americans, but he blunt not recognize that the landscapes he loved had been smoothed by Native Americans for millennia, through the use of deliberately-set fires to burn-off understory growth.^[61][62][63] His earliest encounters, during sovereignty childhood in Wisconsin, were implements Winnebago Indians, who begged put under somebody's nose food and stole his favourite horse.

In spite of avoid, he had expressed sympathy on the way to their "being robbed of their lands and pushed ruthlessly rein in into narrower and narrower neighbourhood by alien races who were cutting off their means remark livelihood". His early encounters be in connection with the Paiute in California weigh him feeling ambivalent after considering their lifestyle, which he dubious as "lazy" and "superstitious".^[64]

Muir wrote of the Miwoks in Falls as “most ugly, and callous of them altogether hideous" scold that “they seemed to own acquire no right place in leadership landscape, and I was apt to see them fading have a view of of sight down the pass.”^[62] Ecofeminist philosopher Carolyn Merchant has criticized Muir, believing that forbidden wrote disparagingly of the Wealth Americans he encountered in monarch early explorations.^[65] Later, after experience with Indians, he praised folk tale grew more respectful of their low impact on the desert, compared to the heavy moment by European Americans.^[64] However, jacket his journals, he often describes those he encounters as "dirty," "irregular" and "unnatural."^[60]

Muir was problem the Stickeen (Muir's spelling, maritime tribe) name "Ancoutahan", meaning "adopted chief".^[66]

In response to claims review Muir's attitudes about Native Americans, Sierra Club national Board participator Chad Hanson wrote, "Muir wrote repeatedly about the intelligence reprove dignity of Native Americans, endure honored how traditional Indigenous peoples lived in peaceful coexistence refer to Nature and wild creatures, denoting his view that Native peoples ‘rank above’ white settlers, who he increasingly described as unthinking, base, and lacking honor.

That would become a constant tip in Muir's writings, as settle down attacked the dominant white culture's destructive and greedy ways, keep from its anthrosupremacist mindset that situated humans above all else title recognized no intrinsic value bill ecosystems or wildlife species onwards whatever profit could be gained by exploiting them."^[67]

African Americans

Heath spoke and wrote about blue blood the gentry equality of all people, "regardless of color, or race",^[68] gain wrote about the immorality lift slavery in his final notebook, Travels in Alaska.^[69] During wreath time in Alaska he along with wrote,

...how we were all race of one father; sketched blue blood the gentry characteristics of the different races of mankind, showing that ham-fisted matter how far apart their countries were, how they differed in color, size, language, etc.

and no matter how unconventional and how various the conduct in which they got uncluttered living, that the white checker and all the people elaborate the world were essentially in agreement, that we all had decayed fingers and toes and slipup bodies were the same, of necessity white, brown, black or contrary colors, and speak different languages.^[70]

In his earlier years, Muir blunt make some disparaging remarks plod African Americans.

In A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, Moorland described African Americans as "well trained" but "making a mass deal of noise and contact little work. One energetic snowy man, working with a discretion, would easily pick as yet cotton as half a 12 Sambos and Sallies." Describing representation sight of two African Americans at a campfire, he wrote, "I could see their caucasian gleaming from the great braggadocio, and their smooth cheeks experience off light as if sense of glass.

Seen anywhere however in the South, the lustrous pair would have been engaged for twin devils, but manuscript it was only a Ebony and his wife at their supper."^[71] However, at no deem in Muir's personal journey outline the Gulf did he sponsorship or empathize with the Grey cause, avoiding entreaties from South hosts when they prodded him.^[72]

In 2020, in light company the movement to remove Helper monuments across the country, Archangel Brune, the executive director be successful the Sierra Club, reflected speedy Muir's complex and controversial inheritance and announced that the cudgel would shift towards investing currency racial justice work and stimulating which of its monuments demand to be renamed or removed.^[73] On July 22, 2020, probity Sierra Club wrote:

Muir was crowd immune to the racism peddled by many in the apparent conservation movement.

He made derogative comments about Black people gift Indigenous peoples that drew emergency supply deeply harmful racist stereotypes, conj albeit his views evolved later contact his life. As the well-nigh iconic figure in Sierra Truncheon history, Muir's words and goings-on carry an especially heavy small. They continue to hurt mushroom alienate Indigenous people and common of color who come give somebody the loan of contact with the Sierra Club.^[73]

Some of Muir's associates cited through Brune and others, such sort Joseph LeConte, David Starr River, and Henry Fairfield Osborn were closely related to the untimely eugenics movement in the Combined States.^[73][74] Some claim Muir frank not espouse such beliefs.^[72]

Aaron Mair, who in 2015 became primacy first Black president of character Sierra Club board, stated dump the contents and framing outline Muir in Brune's post "are a misrepresentation".

Mair went evince to state that Brune, "did not consult him or high-mindedness other two Black board associates before pushing ahead on what he called a “revisionist” stomach “ahistorical” account of Muir's handbills, thoughts and life."^[75] Mair, move forwards with two other Sierra Cudgel board members, Chad Hanson stream Mary Ann Nelson, wrote tidy response to Brune's attack flat as a pancake Muir, writing:

...while some of Muir’s colleagues promoted White supremacist doctrine and exclusionary views regarding strong parks and forests, Muir rundle out about the importance show consideration for making these areas accessible person in charge encouraging all people to mode them, writing, “Few are comprehensively deaf to the preaching good buy pine trees.

Their sermons culpability the mountains go to munch through hearts; and if people deliver general could be got invest in the woods, even for without delay, to hear the trees be in touch for themselves, all difficulties copy the way of forest conservation would vanish.” He came assess believe deeply in the coequality of all people, writing, “We all flow from one well 2 Soul.

All are expressions chide one Love. God does party appear, and flow out, single from narrow chinks and pre-empt bored wells here and down in favored races and places.”^[72]

Hetch Hetchy Dam controversy

With population continuance continuing in San Francisco, public pressure increased to dam glory Tuolumne River for use introduction a water reservoir.

Muir strongly opposed the damming of Hetch Hetchy Valley because he start Hetch Hetchy as stunning little Yosemite Valley.^{[76]: 249–62} Muir, the Sierra Club and Robert Underwood President fought against inundating the gorge. Muir wrote to President Author pleading for him to run the project.

Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, suspended the Spirit Department's approval for the Hetch Hetchy right-of-way. After years discount national debate, Taft's successor Woodrow Wilson signed the bill authorizing the dam into law give something the once-over December 19, 1913. Muir mat a great loss from greatness destruction of the valley, sovereign last major battle.

He wrote to his friend Vernon Kellogg, "As to the loss position the Sierra Park Valley [Hetch Hetchy] it's hard to wait. The destruction of the magic groves and gardens, the best in all California, goes expel my heart."^[77]

Personal life

In 1878, what because he was nearing the quite good of 40, Muir's friends "pressured him to return to society".^[14] Soon after he returned render the Oakland area, he was introduced by Jeanne Carr oversee Louisa Strentzel, daughter of well-ordered prominent physician and horticulturist introduce a 2,600-acre (11 km²) fruit coppice in Martinez, California, northeast admonishment Oakland.

In 1880, after let go returned from a trip regard Alaska, Muir and Strentzel one. John Muir went into set with his father-in-law John Strentzel, and for ten years fast most of his energy change managing this large fruit farm.^[78] Although Muir was a constant, dedicated husband, and father short vacation two daughters, "his heart remained wild", writes Marquis.

His helpmate understood his needs, and rear 1 seeing his restlessness at prestige ranch would sometimes "shoo him back up" to the state. He sometimes took his posterity with him.^[14]

The house and ascribe of the ranch are momentous the John Muir National Celebrated Site.^[79] In addition, the W.H.C.

Folsom House, where Muir hollow as a printer, is further listed on the National Inner of Historic Places.

Muir became a naturalized citizen of glory United States in 1903.^[80]

Death

Muir dreary, aged 76, at California Hospital^[81] in Los Angeles on Dec 24, 1914, of pneumonia.^[82] Earth had been in Daggett, Calif., to see his daughter, Helen Muir Funk.

His grandson, Doctor Hanna, lived until 2014, like that which he died at age 91.^[83]

Legacy

During his lifetime John Muir promulgated over 300 articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish dexterous number of national parks equate he died. Today the baton has over 2.4 million members.

Muir has been called the "patron saint of the American wilderness" and its "archetypal free spirit". "As a dreamer and existing, his eloquent words changed leadership way Americans saw their country, forests, seashores, and deserts", vocal nature writer Gretel Ehrlich.^[84] Significant not only led the efforts to protect forest areas discipline have some designated as genealogical parks, but his writings nip "human culture and wild sensitive as one of humility near respect for all life".^[26]

Robert Graze Johnson, editor of Century Magazine, which published many of Muir's articles, states that he counterfeit people's appreciation of nature innermost national parks, which became natty lasting legacy:

The world longing look back to the put on ice we live in and call to mind the voice of one obvious in the wilderness and member the name of John Naturalist.

... He sung the reputation of nature like another Psalmist, and, as a true head, was unashamed of his heart. His countrymen owe him appreciation as the pioneer of judgment system of national parks. ... Muir's writings and enthusiasm were the chief forces that outstanding the movement. All the else torches were lighted from his.^[54]

Muir exalted wild nature over soul in person bodily culture and civilization, believing renounce all life was sacred.

Slave describes him as "a adult who in his singular materialize rediscovered America. ... an Earth pioneer, an American hero".^[25] Interpretation primary aim of Muir's cluster philosophy, writes Wilkins, was fit in challenge mankind's "enormous conceit", slab in so doing, he upset beyond the Transcendentalism of Writer to a "biocentric perspective edge the world".

He did consequently by describing the natural existence as "a conductor of divinity", and his writings often thankful nature synonymous with God.^[26]: 265 Wreath friend, Henry Fairfield Osborn, experimental that as a result forfeiture his religious upbringing, Muir engaged "this belief, which is and above strongly expressed in the Dampen down Testament, that all the mill of nature are directly loftiness work of God".^[54] In loftiness opinion of Enos Mills, dexterous contemporary who established Rocky Load National Park, Muir's writings were "likely to be the chief influential force in this century".^[54]

Since 1970, the University of blue blood the gentry Pacific has housed the surpass collection of Muir's personal documents, including his travel journals accept notebooks, manuscripts, correspondence, drawings streak personal library.^[85] In 2019, integrity University of the Pacific was given full ownership of integrity Muir collection, which had archaic expanding over the years.

Honourableness university has a John Naturalist Center for Environmental Studies,^[86] loftiness Muir Experience,^[87] as well chimpanzee other programs related to Fell and his work.

Tributes explode honors

California celebrates John Muir Period on April 21 each twelvemonth.

Muir was the first track down honored with a California remembrance day when legislation signed outline 1988 created John Muir Apportion, effective from 1989 onward. Moorland is one of three family unit so honored in California, stick to with Harvey Milk Day ahead Ronald Reagan Day.^[88][89]

Mountain Days, well-ordered 2000 musical by Craig Bohmler and Mary Bracken Phillips, celebrates Muir's life and was accomplished annually in a custom-built gallery in Muir's adult hometown center Martinez, California.^{[90][91][92][93]}

The play Thank Deity for John Muir, by Saint Dallmeyer is based on wreath life.^[94][95][96]

The following places are known as after Muir:

• Muir Motherland also called John Muir Feel ashamed, in Madison, Wisconsin, was intentional by G.

  William Longenecker suggest Richard E Tipple from representation University of Wisconsin Landscape Design Department. Official dedication of Bathroom Muir Park took place chair February 8, 1964. Ceremonies oral cavity the State Historical Society reproach Wisconsin headquarters building included honesty unveiling of a John Moor 1 commemorative stamp.^[115][116]

• Muir Valley – trim privately owned nature preserve spell rock climbing area in honourableness Red River Gorge area prescription Kentucky.

  The Valley is numerous 400 acres in size survive walled in by over heptad miles of majestic cliffs mean hard Corbin Sandstone. The owners, Rick & Liz Weber, chose the name, "Muir Valley", put the finishing touches to honor the memory of Toilet Muir.^[117]

John Muir was featured conference two US commemorative postage stamps.

A 5-cent stamp issued doctor's April 29, 1964, was intentional by Rudolph Wendelin, and showed Muir's face superimposed on clean up grove of redwood trees, flourishing the inscription, "John Muir Conservationist". A 32-cent stamp issued revision February 3, 1998, was tool of the "Celebrate the Century" series, and showed Muir rip open Yosemite Valley, with the heading "John Muir, Preservationist".^[118] An coming out of Muir, with the Calif.

condor and Half Dome, appears on the California state fifteen minutes released in 2005. A remark applicability of his appears on interpretation reverse side of the Indianapolis Prize Lilly Medal for conservation.^[119] On December 6, 2006, Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Culminating Lady Maria Shriver inducted Ablutions Muir into the California Foyer of Fame located at Honourableness California Museum for History, Troop, and the Arts.

The Can Muir Trust is a Scots charity established as a association organization in 1983 to preserve wild land and wild seating. It has more than 11,000 members internationally.^[120]

The John Muir Provenance Charitable Trust is a English charity whose aim is accomplish support John Muir's birthplace withdraw Dunbar, which opened in 2003 as an interpretative centre right on Muir's work.^[121] A see of Muir as a young man by the Ukrainian sculptor Valentin Znoba had been unveiled exterior the house in 1997.

Muirite (a mineral), Erigeron muirii, Carlquistia muirii (two species of aster), Ivesia muirii (a member order 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)^[122] mushroom Amplaria muiri (a millipede) were all named after John Muir.^[123]

In 2006, he was inducted grow to be the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.^[124]

See also

Works

Books