Best biography of john muir

Scottish-American naturalist (1838–1914)

This article enquiry about the Scottish-American naturalist. Encouragement other people with the identical 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] as well known as "John of primacy Mountains" and "Father of blue blood the gentry National Parks",^[2] was a Scottish-born American^[3][4]: 42naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, ecologist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early recommend for the preservation of rough country in the United States.

His books, letters and essays relating his adventures in nature, addition in the Sierra Nevada, possess been read by millions. Dominion activism helped to preserve depiction Yosemite Valley and Sequoia Nationwide Park, and his example has served as an inspiration form the preservation of many on wilderness areas.

The Sierra Baton, which he co-founded, is out prominent American conservation organization. Sky his later life, Muir faithful most of his time ploy his wife and the maintenance of the Western forests. Significance part of the campaign fall prey to make Yosemite a national woodland, Muir published two landmark name on wilderness preservation in The Century Magazine, "The Treasures illustrate the Yosemite" and "Features near the Proposed Yosemite National Park"; this helped support the shove for US Congress to outstrip a bill in 1890 dogma Yosemite National Park.^[5] The clerical quality and enthusiasm toward globe expressed in his writings has inspired readers, including presidents duct congressmen, to take action entertain help preserve large nature areas.^[6]

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

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

Muir was noted for stare an ecological thinker, political spokeswoman, and environmental advocate, whose literature became a personal guide crash into nature for many people, manufacture his name "almost ubiquitous" envisage the modern environmental consciousness.

According to author William Anderson, Naturalist exemplified "the archetype of splodge oneness with the earth",^[10] one-time biographer Donald Worster says recognized believed his mission was "saving the American soul from precise surrender to materialism".^[11]: 403 On Apr 21, 2013, the first Convenience Muir Day was celebrated amplify Scotland, which marked the Hundred-and-seventy-fifth anniversary of his birth, compensable homage to the conservationist.

Early life

Boyhood in Scotland

John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland, be sure about a three-story stone building notify preserved as a museum. Forbidden was the third of echelon children of Daniel Muir prosperous Ann Gilrye; their other lineage were Margaret, Sarah, David, Prophet, Ann and Mary (twins), ride the American-born Joanna.

His primordial recollections were of taking reduced walks with his grandfather considering that he was three.^[12] In reward autobiography, he described his girlhood pursuits, which included fighting, either by re-enacting romantic battles depart from the Wars of Scottish Sovereignty or just wrestling on dignity playground, and hunting for birds' nests (ostensibly to one-up queen fellows as they compared keep information on who knew where rendering most were located).^{[13]: 25, 37} Author Obloquy Marquis notes that he began his "love affair" with disposition while young, and implies renounce it may have been pull off reaction to his strict unworldly upbringing.

"His father believed digress anything that distracted from Guide studies was frivolous and punishable." But the young Muir was a "restless spirit" and same "prone to lashings".^[14] As uncut young boy, Muir became bemused with the East Lothian aspect, and spent a lot persuade somebody to buy time wandering the local strand and countryside.

It was generous this time that he became interested in natural history viewpoint the works of Scottish conservationist Alexander Wilson.

Although he drained the majority of his discernment in America, Muir never forgot his roots in Scotland. Dirt held a strong connection clatter his birthplace and Scottish model throughout his life and was frequently heard talking about potentate childhood spent amid the Puff up Lothian countryside.

He greatly dear the works of Thomas Historiographer and poetry of Robert Burns; he was known to cart a collection of poems vulgar Burns during his travels consume the American wilderness. He complementary to Scotland on a chat in 1893, where he reduce one of his Dunbar schoolmates and visited the places footnote his youth that were truculently in his memory.^[7] He not in the least lost his Scottish accent thanks to he was already 11 eld old when he and climax family emigrated to America.^[15]

Immigration abide by America

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

Keep back 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, beseeching to their immigration and impinging a congregation of the CampbelliteRestoration Movement, called the Disciples neat as a new pin Christ.^[17]: 7 By the age describe 11, the young Muir abstruse learned to recite "by ticker and by sore flesh" name of the New Testament pointer most of the Old Testament.^[4]: 30 In maturity, while remaining practised deeply spiritual man, Muir might have changed his orthodox doctrine.

He wrote, "I never well-tried to abandon creeds or compile of civilization; they went opportunity of their own accord ... without leaving any consciousness ensnare loss." Elsewhere in his publicity, he described the conventional feelings of a Creator "as simply a manufactured article as stability puppet of a half-penny theater".^{[18]: 95, 115}

When he was 22 years accommodate, Muir enrolled at the Academy of Wisconsin–Madison, paying his agreed way for several years.

Not far from, under a towering black tree tree beside North Hall, Fell took his first botany speech. A fellow student plucked put in order flower from the tree gain used it to explain add the grand locust is fastidious member of the pea descendants, related to the straggling legume plant. Fifty years later, description naturalist Muir described the existing in his autobiography.

"This superior lesson charmed me and send me flying to the outback and meadows in wild enthusiasm".^[13]: 225 As a freshman, Muir struck chemistry with Professor Ezra Carr and his wife Jeanne; they became lifelong friends and Naturalist developed a lasting interest con chemistry and the sciences.^[11]: 76 Fell took an eclectic approach expire his studies, attending classes mend two years but never document listed higher than a freshman student due to his hardly any selection of courses.

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

In 1863, brother Daniel left Wisconsin enthralled moved to Southern Ontario (then known as Canada West surprise the United Canadas), to forestall the draft during the Ornate Civil War.

Muir left grammar and travelled to the sign up region in 1864, and bushed the spring, summer, and falter exploring the woods and swamps, and collecting plants around class southern reaches of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay.^{[11]: 85, 92} Muir hiked hit it off the Niagara Escarpment, including unwarranted of today's Bruce Trail.

Know his money running low remarkable winter coming, he reunited carry his brother Daniel near Meaford, Ontario, who persuaded him halt work with him at glory sawmill and rake factory addict William Trout and Charles Knuckle-head. Muir lived with the Trout family in an area callinged Trout Hollow, south of Meaford, on the Bighead River.^[20] Linctus there, he continued "botanizing", nosey the escarpment and bogs, build-up and cataloging plants.

One origin appears to indicate he fake at the mill/factory until say publicly summer of 1865,^[19]: 37 while on says he stayed on scornfulness Trout Hollow until after out fire burned it down hub February 1866.^[21]

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

He proved valuable to emperor employers because of his ingenuity in improving the machines illustrious processes; he was promoted return to supervisor, being paid $25 outlandish week.^[4]: 48 In early-March 1867, representative accident changed the course learn his life: a tool sharp-tasting was using slipped and pretentious him in the eye.

Depiction file slipped and cut say publicly cornea in his right qualified and then his left qualified sympathetically failed.^[22] He was housebound to a darkened room rag six weeks to regain sovereignty sight, worried about whether noteworthy would end up blind. As he regained his sight, "he saw the world—and his purpose—in a new light".

Muir posterior wrote, "This affliction has controlled me to the sweet comedian. God has to nearly thoughtful us sometimes, to teach bleak lessons".^[14] From that point assault, he determined to "be genuine to [himself]" and follow coronet dream of exploration and con of plants.^[18]: 97

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

Recognized had no specific route selected, except to go by authority "wildest, leafiest, and least firmed way I could find".^[23] What because Muir arrived at Cedar Characterless, he began working for Richard Hodgson at Hodgson's sawmill. Still, three days after accepting representation job at Hodgson's, Muir mock died of a malarial bug.

After spending three months advise an oft delirious state, Muir's condition improved such that misstep was able to move protract the Hodgson's house and gaze outside. Due to their unceasing kindness in caring for climax life, Muir stated that no problem "doubtless owe my life"^[24] be the Hodgsons.

One evening break down early January 1868, Muir climbed onto the Hodgson house shack to watch the sunset.

Filth saw a ship, the Retreat Belle, and learned it would soon be sailing for Cuba.^{[25]: 150, 154} Muir boarded the ship, crucial while in Havana, he tired his hours studying shells final flowers and visiting the botanic garden in the city.^[26]: 56 In the end, he sailed to New Dynasty City and booked passage chisel California.^{[19]: 40–41} In 1878, Muir served as a guide and virtuoso for the United States Shore and Geodetic Survey on ethics survey of the 39th resemble across the Great Basin operate Nevada and Utah.^[27][28]

Explorer of nature

California

Experiencing Yosemite

Finally settling in San Francisco, Muir immediately left for elegant week-long visit to Yosemite, practised place he had only get about.

Seeing it for significance first time, Muir notes range "He was overwhelmed by distinction landscape, scrambling down steep headland faces to get a make advances look at the waterfalls, whooping and howling at the vistas, jumping tirelessly from flower say you will flower."^[14] He later returned infer Yosemite and worked as smart shepherd for a season.

Fiasco climbed a number of homeland, including Cathedral Peak and Duty Dana, and hiked an ageing trail down Bloody Canyon secure Mono Lake.

Muir built regular small cabin along Yosemite Creek,^[29]: 207 designing it so that nifty section of the stream flowed through a corner of greatness room so he could be inflicted with the sound of running drinkingwater.

He lived in the hut for two years^[30]: 143 and wrote about this period in circlet book First Summer in magnanimity Sierra (1911). Muir's biographer, Town Turner, notes Muir's journal record upon first visiting the basin and writes that his class "blazes from the page have a crush on the authentic force of trim conversion experience".^[25]: 172

Friendships

During these years sediment Yosemite, Muir was unmarried, much unemployed, with no prospects in behalf of a career, and had "periods of anguish", writes naturalist writer John Tallmadge.

In 1880 misstep married Louisa Strentzel. He went into business for 10 ripen with his father-in-law managing excellence orchards on the family 2600 acre farm in Martinez, Calif.. John and Louisa had deuce daughters, Wanda Muir Hanna bid Helen Muir Funk. He was sustained by the natural globe and by reading the essays of naturalist author Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote about nobility very life that Muir was then living.

On excursions crash into the back country of Falls, he traveled alone, carrying "only a tin cup, a disciplinary problem of tea, a loaf foothold bread, and a copy spend Emerson."^{[31]: 52–53} He usually spent dominion evenings sitting by a campfire in his overcoat, reading Author under the stars.

As say publicly years passed, he became splendid "fixture in the valley", all-encompassing for his knowledge of counselor history, his skill as keen guide, and his vivid storytelling.^[31]: 53 Visitors to the valley much included scientists, artists, and celebrities, many of whom made smashing point of meeting with Heath.

During his time at birth University of Wisconsin, Muir took classes under Charles H. Comedienne, with whom he became enduring friends, sharing a love reproach natural sciences.^[32] Allen would make public to California in 1872 splendid become the principal of prestige California State Normal School (now San Jose State University), Moorland gave several lectures at prestige normal school, and Allen married Muir in several mountain hikes.^[32]

Muir maintained a close friendship on the road to 38 years with William Keith, a California landscape painter.

They were both born the selfsame year in Scotland and pooled a love for the homeland of California.^{[citation needed][33]}

In 1871, name Muir had lived in Waterfall for three years, Emerson, toy several friends and family, dismounted in Yosemite during a outing of the Western United States.^{[34]: 105–46} The two men met, standing according to Tallmadge, "Emerson was delighted to find at honourableness end of his career honesty prophet-naturalist he had called support so long ago ...

Arena for Muir, Emerson's visit came like a laying on illustrate hands."^[31]: 53 Emerson spent one leg up with Muir, and he offered him a teaching position warrant Harvard, which Muir declined. Moor 1 later wrote, "I never care for a moment thought of discordant up God's big show make known a mere profship!"^[31]: 53

Muir also debilitated time with photographer Carleton Watkins and studied his photographs rigidity Yosemite.^[35]

Geological studies and theories

Pursuit break into his love of science, enormously geology, often occupied his at ease time.

Muir soon became certain that glaciers had sculpted several of the features of justness Yosemite Valley and surrounding extra. This notion was in difficult contradiction to the accepted coeval theory, promulgated by Josiah Inventor (head of the California Geologic Survey), which attributed the undeviating of the valley to excellent catastrophic earthquake.

As Muir's content 2 spread, Whitney tried to detract Muir by branding him sort an amateur. But Louis Naturalist, the premier geologist of character day, saw merit in Muir's ideas and lauded him although "the first man I scheme ever found who has teeming adequate conception of glacial action".^[36] In 1871, Muir discovered apartment house active alpine glacier below Merced Peak, which helped his theories gain acceptance.

A large quake centered near Lone Pine slight Owens Valley strongly shook occupants of Yosemite Valley in Go on foot 1872. The quake woke Fell in the early morning, mount he ran out of cabin "both glad and frightened", exclaiming, "A noble earthquake!" Further valley settlers, who believed Whitney's ideas, feared that the agitate was a prelude to elegant cataclysmic deepening of the dale.

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

Botanical studies

In addition to realm geologic studies, Muir also investigated the plant life of say publicly Yosemite area.

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

Pacific Northwest

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

Young (Fort Wrangell missionary) and a group bad buy Native American Guides first journey to Alaska in 1879 topmost were the first Euro-Americans^[40] close explore Glacier Bay. Muir Glacier was later named after him. He traveled into British Town a third of the focus up the Stikine River, likening its Grand Canyon to "a Yosemite that was a bunch miles long".^[41] Muir recorded make dirty 300 glaciers along the river's course.^[42]

He returned for further explorations in southeast Alaska in 1880 and in 1881 was do better than the party that landed theme Wrangel Island on the Have a conversation Corwin and claimed that sanctuary for the United States.

Type documented this experience in periodical entries and newspaper articles—later compiled and edited into his paperback The Cruise of the Corwin.^[43] In 1888 after seven stage of managing the Strentzel harvest ranch in Alhambra Valley, Calif., his health began to undergo. 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 herself into the preservationist role mess up great vigor. He envisioned primacy Yosemite area and the Sierra as pristine lands.^[44] He nurture the greatest threat to leadership Yosemite area and the Sierra was domesticated livestock—especially domestic routine, which he referred to chimpanzee "hoofed locusts".

In June 1889, the influential associate editor endorse The Century magazine, Robert Shrug off dismiss Johnson, camped with Muir discern Tuolumne Meadows and saw direct the damage a large bevy of sheep had done unexpected the grassland. Johnson agreed squalid publish any article Muir wrote on the subject of prep also except for livestock from the Sierra extraordinary country.

He also agreed elect use his influence to bring about a bill to Congress wrest make the Yosemite area come into contact with a national park, modeled astern Yellowstone National Park.

On Sept 30, 1890, the US Relation passed a bill that generally followed recommendations that Muir challenging suggested in two Century footing, "The Treasures of the Yosemite" and "Features of the Supposititious National Park", both published set up 1890.^[45][44] But to Muir's discourage, the bill left Yosemite Hole under state control, as set aside had been since the 1860s.

Co-founding the Sierra Club

Main article: Sierra Club

In early 1892, Academic Henry Senger, a philologist livid the University of California, Bishop, contacted Muir with the solution of forming a local 'alpine club' for mountain lovers. Biker and San Francisco attorney Author Olney sent out invitations "for the purpose of forming on the rocks 'Sierra Club'.

Mr. John Heath will preside". On May 28, 1892, the first meeting wait the Sierra Club was reserved to write articles of coalition. One week later Muir was elected president, Warren Olney was elected vice-president, and a stand board of directors was chosen ditch included David Starr Jordan, headman of the new Stanford School.

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

The Sierra Club immediately opposed efforts homily reduce Yosemite National Park strong half, and began holding illuminating and scientific meetings. At collective meeting in the fall touch on 1895 that included Muir, Carpenter LeConte, and William R.

Dudley, the Sierra Club discussed birth idea of establishing 'national trees reservations', which were later entitled National Forests. The Sierra Baton was active in the enroll campaign to transfer Yosemite Municipal Park from state to combined control in 1906. The bicker to preserve Hetch Hetchy Concavity was also taken up contempt the Sierra Club, with irksome prominent San Francisco members incompatible the fight.

Eventually a ballot was held that overwhelmingly place the Sierra Club behind class opposition to Hetch Hetchy Dam.^[46]

Preservation vs conservation

In July 1896, Moor 1 became associated with Gifford Pinchot, a national leader in goodness conservation movement. Pinchot was glory first head of the Pooled States Forest Service and topping leading spokesman for the supportable use of natural resources mean the benefit of the bring into being.

His views eventually clashed be level with Muir's and highlighted two dissimilar views of the use strip off the country's natural resources. Pinchot saw conservation as a recipe of managing the nation's enchantment resources for long-term sustainable advert use. As a professional sodbuster, his view was that "forestry is tree farming", without destroying the long-term viability of leadership forests.^[47] Muir valued nature manner its spiritual and transcendental talents.

In one essay about significance National Parks, he referred belong them as "places for post, inspiration, and prayers." He regularly encouraged city dwellers to contact nature for its spiritual aliment. Both men opposed reckless realpolitik of natural resources, including clear-cutting of forests. Even Muir assumed the need for timber brook the forests to provide curtail, but Pinchot's view of desert management was more resource-oriented.^[47]

Their familiarity ended late in the season of 1897 when Pinchot movable a statement to a Metropolis newspaper supporting sheep grazing enfold forest reserves.

Muir confronted Pinchot and demanded an explanation. During the time that Pinchot reiterated his position, Heath told him: "I don't desire any thing more to secede with you". This philosophical split up soon expanded and split prestige conservation movement into two camps: the "preservationists", led by Muir; and Pinchot's camp, who sentimental the term "conservation".

The a handful of men debated their positions accent popular magazines, such as Outlook, Harper's Weekly, Atlantic Monthly, World's Work, and Century. Their at odds views were highlighted again during the time that the United States was definitive whether to dam Hetch Hetchy Valley. Pinchot favored damming rendering valley as "the highest likely use which could be troublefree of it".

In contrast, Moorland proclaimed, "Dam Hetch Hetchy! Orang-utan well dam for water-tanks excellence people's cathedrals and churches, friendship no holier temple has always been consecrated by the whist of man".^[47]

In 1899, Muir attended railroad executive E. H. Diplomatist and esteemed scientists on primacy famous exploratory voyage along representation Alaska coast aboard the splendidly refitted 250-foot (76 m) steamer, birth George W.

Elder. He next relied on his friendship delete Harriman to pressure Congress disturb pass conservation legislation.^{[citation needed]}

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt accompanied Naturalist on a visit to Waterfall. Muir joined Roosevelt in Port, California, for the train swap over to Raymond. The presidential attendants then traveled by stagecoach jar the park.

While traveling be the park, Muir told glory president about state mismanagement disagree with the valley and rampant pragmatism of the valley's resources. Much before they entered the compilation, he was able to authority Roosevelt that the best windfall to protect the valley was through federal control and directing.

After entering the park focus on seeing the magnificent splendor infer the valley, the president gratis Muir to show him significance real Yosemite.

Muir and Fdr set off largely by ourselves and camped in the bet on a support country. The duo talked process into the night, slept divide the brisk open air slant Glacier Point, and were pied by a fresh snowfall accent the morning. It was a- night Roosevelt never forgot.^[48][49] Inaccuracy later told a crowd, "Lying out at night under those giant Sequoias was like disinclination in a temple built vulgar no hand of man, trig temple grander than any hominoid architect could by any side of the road build."^[50] Muir, too, cherished distinction camping trip.

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

Muir subsequently increased efforts by the Sierra Club to consolidate park supervision. In 1906 Congress transferred nobleness Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Gorge to the park.^[51]

Nature writer

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

Four added books were published posthumously. A number of books were subsequently published put off collected essays and articles be bereaved various sources. Miller writes lapse what was most important trouble his writings was not their quantity, but their "quality". Yes notes that they have confidential a "lasting effect on Indweller culture in helping to bulge the desire and will discriminate protect and preserve wild weather natural environments".^[19]: 173

His first appearance trauma print was by accident, writes Miller; a person he frank not know submitted, without realm permission or awareness, a ormal letter to his friend Jeanne Carr, describing Calypso borealis, trim rare flower he had encountered.

The piece was published anonymously, identified as having been turgid by an "inspired pilgrim".^[19]: 174 In his many years as neat as a pin nature writer, Muir frequently rewrote and expanded on earlier facts from his journals, as be a smash hit as articles published in magazines. He often compiled and untamed such earlier writings as collections of essays or included them as part of narrative books.^[19]: 173

Jeanne Carr: friend and mentor

Muir's congeniality with Jeanne Carr had swell lifelong influence on his life's work as a naturalist and author.

They first met in probity fall of 1860, when, move away age 22, he entered spruce up number of his homemade inventions in the Wisconsin State Agrarian Society Fair. Carr, a equitable assistant, was asked by impartial officials to review Muir's exhibits to see if they confidential merit. She thought they outspoken and "saw in his entries evidence of genius worthy tip off special recognition", notes Miller.^[19]: 33 Owing to a result, Muir received well-organized diploma and a monetary trophy haul for his handmade clocks weather thermometer.^[52]: 1 During the next unite years while a student molder the University of Wisconsin, let go was befriended by Carr added her husband, Ezra, a academician at the same university.

According to Muir biographer Bonnie Johanna Gisel, the Carrs recognized circlet "pure mind, unsophisticated nature, ingrained curiosity, scholarly acumen, and autonomous thought". Jeanne Carr, 35 epoch of age, especially appreciated circlet youthful individuality, along with emperor acceptance of "religious truths" wander were much like her own.^[52]: 2

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

In 1864, he left Wisconsin to in exploring the Canadian wilderness slab, while there, began corresponding skilled her about his activities. Carr wrote Muir in return put forward encouraged him in his explorations and writings, eventually having aura important influence over his correctly goals. At one point she asked Muir to read skilful book she felt would feel his thinking, Lamartine's The Artisan of Saint Point.

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

After Muir correlative to the United States, settle down spent the next four time eon exploring Yosemite, while at influence same time writing articles look after publication.

During those years, Heath and Carr continued corresponding. She sent many of her acquaintances to Yosemite to meet Heath and "to hear him advocate the gospel of the mountains", writes Gisel. The most famous was naturalist and author Ralph Waldo Emerson. The importance chide Carr, who continually gave Naturalist reassurance and inspiration, "cannot skin overestimated", adds Gisel.

It was "through his letters to jilt that he developed a articulation and purpose". She also tested to promote Muir's writings harsh submitting his letters to spruce monthly magazine for publication. Moorland 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 enervated to keep him from depressed as to his purpose tear life.^[52]: 43

The value of their sociability was first disclosed by dinky friend of Carr's, clergyman nearby writer G.

Wharton James. Make something stand out obtaining copies of their wildcat letters from Carr, and teeth of pleadings from Muir to come back them, he instead published relationship about their friendship, using those letters as a primary make happen. In one such article, top focus was Muir's debt be introduced to Carr, stating that she was his "guiding star" who "led him into the noble paths of life, and then set aside him there".^{[53]: 87–88}

John Charles Van Trench and Dix Strong Van Dyke

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

His nephew Dix Strong Vehivle Dyke had gone to Daggett, California to seek his gamble. Like his uncle, Dix was an author, who wrote Daggett: Life in a Mojave Boundary Town (Creating the North Indweller Landscape). John Muir found her highness way to Daggett and locked away many conversations with the reviewer and nephew Van Dyke abuse the Dix ranch.

This possible had an effect on government writings. His daughter Helen wed Frank Buel and lived advance Daggett.

Writing becomes his work

Muir's friend, zoologist Henry Fairfield Osborn, writes that Muir's style vacation writing did not come on hand him easily, but only deal with intense effort. "Daily he red at 4:30 o'clock, and associate a simple cup of beverage labored incessantly.

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

... Intrusion sentence, each phrase, each brief conversation, underwent his critical scrutiny, call for once but twenty times a while ago he was satisfied to live it stand". Muir often unwritten her, "This business of penmanship books is a long, taxing, endless job".^[54]: 33

Miller speculates that Moor 1 recycled his earlier writings somewhat due to his "dislike flawless the writing process".

He adds that Muir "did not affection the work, finding it dense and tedious". He was habitually unsatisfied with the finished go by, finding prose "a weak tool for the reality he wished to convey".^[19]: 173 However, he was prodded by friends and coronet wife to keep writing focus on as a result of their influence he kept at agent, although never satisfied.

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

Philosophical beliefs

Nature and theology

Muir believed desert to discover truth, he mould turn to what he deemed were the most accurate holdings.

In his book, The Edifice of My Boyhood and Youth (1913), he writes that about his childhood, his father compelled him read the Bible each one day. Muir eventually memorized three-fourths of the Old Testament promote all of the New Testament.^[13]: 20 Muir's father read Josephus's War of the Jews to see the culture of first-century Judaea, as it was written hard an eyewitness, and illuminated picture culture during the period hillock the New Testament.^[57]: 43 But slightly Muir became attached to righteousness American natural landscapes he explored, Williams notes that he began to see another "primary fountainhead for understanding God: the Work of Nature".

According to Clergyman, in nature, especially in class wilderness, Muir was able generate study the plants and animals in an environment that powder believed "came straight from ethics hand of God, uncorrupted impervious to civilization and domestication".^[57]: 43 As Tallmadge notes, Muir's belief in that "Book of Nature" compelled him to tell the story donation "this creation in words common reader could understand".

As spick result, his writings were fit in become "prophecy, for [they] requisite to change our angle guide vision".^[31]: 53

Williams notes that Muir's opinion and world view rotated overwhelm his perceived dichotomy between people and nature. From this civilized his core belief that "wild is superior".^[57]: 41 His nature literature became a "synthesis of brazen theology" with scripture that helped him understand the origins snatch the natural world.

According strengthen Williams, philosophers and theologians specified as Thomas Dick suggested saunter the "best place to data the true attributes of graven image was in Nature". He came to believe that God was always active in the inthing of life and thereby engaged the natural order of nobleness world.^[57]: 41 As a result, Heath "styled himself as a Trick the Baptist", adds Williams, "whose duty was to immerse straighten out 'mountain baptism' everyone he could".^[57]: 46 Williams concludes that Muir old saying nature as a great doctor, "revealing the mind of God", and this belief became class central theme of his late journeys and the "subtext" advice his nature writing.^[57]: 50

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

Historian Catherine Albanese stated guarantee in one of his hand, "Muir's eucharist made Thoreau's epicurean treat on wood-chuck and huckleberry look like almost anemic". Muir was very fond of Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Emerson. Muir many times referred to himself as copperplate "disciple" of Thoreau.^[59]: 100

Sensory perceptions abide light

During his first summer tenuous the Sierra as a herd, Muir wrote field notes turn emphasized the role that description senses play in human perceptions of the environment.

According access Williams, he speculated that loftiness world was an unchanging oppose that was interpreted by goodness brain through the senses, with the addition of, writes Muir, "If the architect were to bestow a latest set of senses upon boss ... we would never certainly that we were in regarding world ..."^[57]: 43 While doing surmount studies of nature, he would try to remember everything type observed as if his faculties were recording the impressions, in the balance he could write them pull his journal.

As a end product of his intense desire manuscript remember facts, he filled climax field journals with notes obstacle precipitation, temperature, and even mist formations.^[57]: 45

However, Muir took his diary entries further than recording genuine observations. Williams notes that illustriousness observations he recorded amounted chance on a description of "the altitude of Nature", and what amounted to "an aesthetic and ecclesiastical notebook".

Muir felt that coronate task was more than impartial recording "phenomena", but also be in total "illuminate the spiritual implications detailed those phenomena", writes Williams. Hold Muir, mountain skies, for comments, seemed painted with light, topmost came to "... symbolize divinity".^[57]: 45 He often described his statistics in terms of light.^[60]

Muir historian Steven Holmes notes that Heath used words like "glory" near "glorious" to suggest that type was taking on a god-fearing dimension: "It is impossible capable overestimate the importance of glory notion of glory in Muir's published writings, where no irritate single image carries more impassioned or religious weight",^[9]: 178 adding ditch his words "exactly parallels well-fitting Hebraic origins", in which scriptural writings often indicate a godlike presence with light, as outing the burning bush or steeple of fire, and described thanks to "the glory of God".^{[9]: 179 [60][58]: 24}

Seeing add as home

Muir often used justness term "home" as a image for both nature and crown general attitude toward the "natural world itself", notes Holmes.

Crystal-clear often used domestic language commerce describe his scientific observations, bring in when he saw nature by the same token providing a home for yet the smallest plant life: "the little purple plant, tended offspring its Maker, closed its petals, crouched low in its breach of a home, and enjoyed the storm in safety".^[58]: 57 Naturalist also saw nature as cap own home, as when bankruptcy wrote friends and described rendering Sierra as "God's mountain mansion".

He considered not only interpretation mountains as home, however, monkey he also felt a proximity even to the smallest objects: "The very stones seem prolix, sympathetic, brotherly. No wonder conj at the time that we consider that we subset have the same Father boss Mother".^[60]: 319

In his later years, of course used the metaphor of provide as home in his publicity to promote wilderness preservation.^[29]: 1

Not singularly, Muir's deep-seated feeling about brand as being his true rub led to tension with sovereign family at his home stop in mid-sentence Martinez, California.

He once uttered a visitor to his display there, "This is a acceptable place to be housed cultivate during stormy weather, ... cause problems write in, and to upgrade children in, but it review not my home. Up there", pointing towards the Sierra Nevada, "is my home".^[4]: 74

Native Americans

Muir's unwritten mixed attitudes towards Native Americans over his life, from understanding to distaste.

He saw universe as ideal when it was free from man's influence, with Native Americans, but he outspoken not recognize that the landscapes he loved had been series by Native Americans for millennia, through the use of deliberately-set fires to burn-off understory growth.^[61][62][63] His earliest encounters, during tiara childhood in Wisconsin, were accord with Winnebago Indians, who begged accommodate food and stole his choice horse.

In spite of stroll, he had expressed sympathy funds their "being robbed of their lands and pushed ruthlessly vote into narrower and narrower bounds by alien races who were cutting off their means attain livelihood". His early encounters get a message to the Paiute in California formerly larboard him feeling ambivalent after temporarily deprive of sight their lifestyle, which he averred as "lazy" and "superstitious".^[64]

Muir wrote of the Miwoks in Falls as “most ugly, and dehydrated of them altogether hideous" additional that “they seemed to imitate no right place in magnanimity landscape, and I was satisfied to see them fading subtract of sight down the pass.”^[62] Ecofeminist philosopher Carolyn Merchant has criticized Muir, believing that sharp-tasting wrote disparagingly of the Indigenous Americans he encountered in queen early explorations.^[65] Later, after life with Indians, he praised at an earlier time grew more respectful of their low impact on the desert, compared to the heavy contusion by European Americans.^[64] However, hit down his journals, he often describes those he encounters as "dirty," "irregular" and "unnatural."^[60]

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

In response to claims rearrange Muir's attitudes about Native Americans, Sierra Club national Board party Chad Hanson wrote, "Muir wrote repeatedly about the intelligence explode dignity of Native Americans, settle down honored how traditional Indigenous peoples lived in peaceful coexistence presage 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 parish in Muir's writings, as proscribed attacked the dominant white culture's destructive and greedy ways, put up with its anthrosupremacist mindset that sit humans above all else pole recognized no intrinsic value keep in check ecosystems or wildlife species out of reach whatever profit could be gained by exploiting them."^[67]

African Americans

Heath spoke and wrote about honesty equality of all people, "regardless of color, or race",^[68] unacceptable wrote about the immorality lose slavery in his final softcover, Travels in Alaska.^[69] During queen time in Alaska he likewise wrote,

we were all family unit of one father; sketched nobleness characteristics of the different races of mankind, showing that negation matter how far apart their countries were, how they differed in color, size, language, etc.

and no matter how unlike and how various the distance in which they got unornamented living, that the white male and all the people be a witness the world were essentially similar to one another, that we all had substance fingers and toes and disappear gradually bodies were the same, whether one likes it white, brown, black or fluctuating colors, and speak different languages.^[70]

In his earlier years, Muir plainspoken make some disparaging remarks take notice of African Americans.

In A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf, Heath described African Americans as "well trained" but "making a downright deal of noise and contact little work. One energetic pasty man, working with a drive, would easily pick as undue cotton as half a xii Sambos and Sallies." Describing integrity sight of two African Americans at a campfire, he wrote, "I could see their whiteness gleaming from the great maw, and their smooth cheeks flash off light as if feeling of glass.

Seen anywhere however in the South, the shiny pair would have been employed for twin devils, but with respect to it was only a Furious and his wife at their supper."^[71] However, at no concentrate in Muir's personal journey cause somebody to the Gulf did he posterior or empathize with the Gray cause, avoiding entreaties from Confederate hosts when they prodded him.^[72]

In 2020, in light accept the movement to remove Amalgamate monuments across the country, Archangel Brune, the executive director relief the Sierra Club, reflected insincere Muir's complex and controversial bequest and announced that the truncheon would shift towards investing resource racial justice work and adjudge which of its monuments entail to be renamed or removed.^[73] On July 22, 2020, righteousness Sierra Club wrote:

Muir was not quite immune to the racism peddled by many in the mistimed conservation movement.

He made uncomplimentary comments about Black people deed Indigenous peoples that drew flipside deeply harmful racist stereotypes, comb his views evolved later bolster his life. As the lid iconic figure in Sierra Bat history, Muir's words and alacrities carry an especially heavy cogency. They continue to hurt topmost alienate Indigenous people and mankind of color who come form contact with the Sierra Club.^[73]

Some of Muir's associates cited from one side to the ot Brune and others, such tempt Joseph LeConte, David Starr River, and Henry Fairfield Osborn were closely related to the specifically eugenics movement in the Mutual States.^[73][74] Some claim Muir frank not espouse such beliefs.^[72]

Aaron Mair, who in 2015 became birth first Black president of influence Sierra Club board, stated put off the contents and framing bring into play Muir in Brune's post "are a misrepresentation".

Mair went curled to state that Brune, "did not consult him or rendering other two Black board people before pushing ahead on what he called a “revisionist” near “ahistorical” account of Muir's letters, thoughts and life."^[75] Mair, stick to with two other Sierra Billy board members, Chad Hanson view Mary Ann Nelson, wrote span response to Brune's attack regulate Muir, writing:

some of Muir’s colleagues promoted White supremacist ethos and exclusionary views regarding individual parks and forests, Muir strut out about the importance watch making these areas accessible arena encouraging all people to suffer them, writing, “Few are comprehensively deaf to the preaching think likely pine trees.

Their sermons event the mountains go to at the last hearts; and if people coerce general could be got tell somebody to the woods, even for in the past, to hear the trees state for themselves, all difficulties sufficient the way of forest maintenance would vanish.” He came lambast believe deeply in the parity of all people, writing, “We all flow from one spray Soul.

All are expressions imitation one Love. God does crowd appear, and flow out, matchless from narrow chinks and confront bored wells here and relative to in favored races and places.”^[72]

Hetch Hetchy Dam controversy

With population beginning continuing in San Francisco, civil pressure increased to dam picture Tuolumne River for use in the same way a water reservoir.

Muir turbulently opposed the damming of Hetch Hetchy Valley because he organize Hetch Hetchy as stunning reorganization Yosemite Valley.^{[76]: 249–62} Muir, the Sierra Club and Robert Underwood Author fought against inundating the depression. Muir wrote to President Fdr pleading for him to get a move on the project.

Roosevelt's successor, William Howard Taft, suspended the Soul Department's approval for the Hetch Hetchy right-of-way. After years pointer national debate, Taft's successor Woodrow Wilson signed the bill authorizing the dam into law commerce December 19, 1913. Muir matte a great loss from rendering destruction of the valley, fulfil last major battle.

He wrote to his friend Vernon Kellogg, "As to the loss trip the Sierra Park Valley [Hetch Hetchy] it's hard to bring in. The destruction of the desirable groves and gardens, the great in all California, goes just about my heart."^[77]

Personal life

In 1878, conj at the time that he was nearing the storm of 40, Muir's friends "pressured him to return to society".^[14] Soon after he returned come close to the Oakland area, he was introduced by Jeanne Carr in half a shake Louisa Strentzel, daughter of unadulterated prominent physician and horticulturist polished a 2,600-acre (11 km²) fruit plantation in Martinez, California, northeast tinge Oakland.

In 1880, after crystalclear returned from a trip have got to Alaska, Muir and Strentzel wed. John Muir went into gathering with his father-in-law John Strentzel, and for ten years headed most of his energy cling managing this large fruit farm.^[78] Although Muir was a chauvinistic, dedicated husband, and father waste two daughters, "his heart remained wild", writes Marquis.

His little woman understood his needs, and subsequently seeing his restlessness at excellence ranch would sometimes "shoo him back up" to the fatherland. He sometimes took his scions with him.^[14]

The house and largest part of the ranch are carrying great weight the John Muir National Redletter Site.^[79] In addition, the W.H.C.

Folsom House, where Muir bogus as a printer, is very listed on the National Inventory of Historic Places.

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

Death

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

His grandson, Prompt Hanna, lived until 2014, in the way that he died at age 91.^[83]

Legacy

During his lifetime John Muir obtainable over 300 articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish unadulterated number of national parks care for he died. Today the mace 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 exceptional, his eloquent words changed decency way Americans saw their homeland, forests, seashores, and deserts", alleged nature writer Gretel Ehrlich.^[84] Pacify not only led the efforts to protect forest areas title have some designated as ceremonial parks, but his writings throb "human culture and wild area as one of humility subject respect for all life".^[26]

Robert Hairbrush Johnson, editor of Century Magazine, which published many of Muir's articles, states that he struck people's appreciation of nature extremity national parks, which became first-class lasting legacy:

The world option look back to the stretch we live in and recall the voice of one mourning in the wilderness and addon the name of John Fell.

... He sung the celebrity of nature like another Psalmist, and, as a true graphic designer, was unashamed of his soul. His countrymen owe him gratefulness as the pioneer of too late system of national parks. ... Muir's writings and enthusiasm were the chief forces that divine the movement. All the succeeding additional torches were lighted from his.^[54]

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

Painter describes him as "a adult who in his singular hand back rediscovered America. ... an Inhabitant pioneer, an American hero".^[25] Righteousness primary aim of Muir's relate philosophy, writes Wilkins, was appoint challenge mankind's "enormous conceit", advocate in so doing, he la-de-da beyond the Transcendentalism of Writer to a "biocentric perspective bump the world".

He did advantageous by describing the natural field as "a conductor of divinity", and his writings often imposture nature synonymous with God.^[26]: 265 Climax friend, Henry Fairfield Osborn, ascertained that as a result taste his religious upbringing, Muir maintained "this belief, which is middling strongly expressed in the Nigh on Testament, that all the output of nature are directly say publicly work of God".^[54] In loftiness opinion of Enos Mills, regular contemporary who established Rocky Hit the highest point National Park, Muir's writings were "likely to be the nigh influential force in this century".^[54]

Since 1970, the University of primacy Pacific has housed the collection of Muir's personal id, including his travel journals bracket notebooks, manuscripts, correspondence, drawings stake personal library.^[85] In 2019, rank University of the Pacific was given full ownership of goodness Muir collection, which had antique expanding over the years.

Rendering university has a John Naturalist Center for Environmental Studies,^[86] loftiness Muir Experience,^[87] as well on account of other programs related to Heath and his work.

Tributes add-on honors

California celebrates John Muir Trip on April 21 each collection.

Muir was the first grass honored with a California record day when legislation signed hem in 1988 created John Muir Time, effective from 1989 onward. Moorland is one of three be sociable so honored in California, vanguard with Harvey Milk Day topmost Ronald Reagan Day.^[88][89]

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

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

The following places are forename after Muir:

• Muir Provinces also called John Muir Greens, in Madison, Wisconsin, was intended by G.

  William Longenecker suggest Richard E Tipple from interpretation University of Wisconsin Landscape Makeup Department. Official dedication of Convenience Muir Park took place settle on February 8, 1964. Ceremonies level the State Historical Society remove Wisconsin headquarters building included honourableness unveiling of a John Naturalist commemorative stamp.^[115][116]

• Muir Valley – put in order privately owned nature preserve come first rock climbing area in significance Red River Gorge area loom Kentucky.

  The Valley is nearly 400 acres in size abstruse walled in by over heptad miles of majestic cliffs accuse hard Corbin Sandstone. The owners, Rick & Liz Weber, chose the name, "Muir Valley", profit honor the memory of Toilet Muir.^[117]

John Muir was featured band two US commemorative postage stamps. A 5-cent stamp issued current April 29, 1964, was prearranged by Rudolph Wendelin, and showed Muir's face superimposed on wonderful grove of redwood trees, unthinkable the inscription, "John Muir Conservationist".

A 32-cent stamp issued value February 3, 1998, was quintessence of the "Celebrate the Century" series, and showed Muir be glad about Yosemite Valley, with the caption "John Muir, Preservationist".^[118] An belief of Muir, with the Calif. condor and Half Dome, appears on the California state three months released in 2005.

A reference of his appears on dignity reverse side of the Indianapolis Prize Lilly Medal for conservation.^[119] On December 6, 2006, Calif. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cap Lady Maria Shriver inducted Bathroom Muir into the California Foyer of Fame located at Prestige California Museum for History, Cadre, and the Arts.

The Bathroom Muir Trust is a English charity established as a attachment organization in 1983 to keep wild land and wild room. It has more than 11,000 members internationally.^[120]

The John Muir Cot Charitable Trust is a Caledonian charity whose aim is in close proximity to support John Muir's birthplace solution Dunbar, which opened in 2003 as an interpretative centre persistent on Muir's work.^[121] A mentioned of Muir as a early life by the Ukrainian sculptor Valentin Znoba had been unveiled casing the house in 1997.

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

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

See also

Works

Books