| Simon Snyder Rathvon | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1812-04-24)April 24, 1812 Marietta, Pennsylvania |
| Died | March 19, 1891(1891-03-19) (aged 78) |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse | Catharine Freyberger |
| Children | 11 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Entomology |
| Author abbrev. (botany) | Rathvon |
| Author abbrev. (zoology) | Rathvon |
Simon Snyder Rathvon (1812–1891) was an American entomologist. He specialized in economic and agricultural entomology.
Rathvon was from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and studied under naturalist Samuel S. Haldeman. He went on to become Professor of Entomology at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, editor of the agricultural periodical Lancaster Farmer, and contributed to reports published by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Biography
Rathvon was born on April 24, 1812, in Marietta, Pennsylvania. He apprenticed for a tailor in his teenage years, and by 1832, he opened his own shop in Marietta. He continued the trade for the rest of his career. Although he had an interest in farming, he did not consider himself to have the right build for the work.
In 1832, Rathvon joined the Marietta Thespian Society. Here he met Samuel S. Haldeman, who kindled Rathvon's interest in natural history. By 1842, entomology had become his primary focus. He published perhaps hundreds of papers on the subject, but the true amount is not known. He was only paid twice for these pursuits—for when he had authored two reports for the USDA in the 1860s.
Rathvon was known for having a quiet, reserved disposition. He struggled with feelings of inadequacy within the scientific community, and felt that his lack of formal education made him unqualified. Despite this, Rathvon was an early advocate for applied agricultural entomology. He argued for using integrated pest and crop management techniques, emphasizing the importance of growers differentiating between beneficial, detrimental, and neutral insects.
Later in his scientific career, Rathvon became Professor of Entomology at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and editor of the agricultural periodical Lancaster Farmer. In 1862, Rathvon helped found the Linnaean Society of Lancaster. In 1878, he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. from Franklin and Marshall College.
Partially deaf since his early 30s, his deafness became total in the 1880s. Rathvon died on March 19, 1891. Although it is stated that he was interred at Shreiner-Concord Cemetery, the exact site of his grave is unknown.
Legacy
Rathvon fathered 11 children with his wife Catharine Freyberger.
Rathvon had a large personal insect collection and purchased the collection of Haldeman. Through this purchase, he also acquired the collections of Nicholas Marcellus Hentz. The Rathvon collection numbered around 10,000 species by 1884. It was later purchased for donation to Franklin and Marshall College. Almost 6,000 of Rathvon's specimens are housed at the North Museum of Nature and Science in Lancaster.
Rathvon is the namesake of several species, including Anatis rathvoni, Lichnanthe rathvoni, and Lytta rathvoni. The subspecies Nebria gebleri rathvoni was also named in his honor by John Lawrence LeConte.
The standard author abbreviation Rathvon is used to indicate this person as the author when citing a botanical name.References
- ^ Winpenny, Thomas R. (1990). "The Triumphs and Anguish of a Self-Made Man: 19th Century Naturalist S.S. Rathvon". Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies. 57 (2): 136–149. JSTOR 27773367. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Wheeler, Alfred G.; Miller, Gary L. (2006). "Simon Snyder Rathvon: Popularizer of Agricultural Entomology in Mid-19th Century America". American Entomologist. 52 (1): 36–47. doi:10.1093/ae/52.1.36. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Lang, Harry G.; Santiago-Blay, Jorge A. (1 January 2012). "Contributions of deaf people to entomology: A hidden legacy". Terrestrial Arthropod Reviews. 5 (3–4): 223–268. doi:10.1163/18749836-05031052. ISSN 1874-9836.
- ^ Hawkes, Jeff (23 April 2012). "Lancaster County should remember its bug baron". LNP. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ Bousquet, Yves (28 November 2012). "Catalogue of Geadephaga (Coleoptera: Adephaga) of America, north of Mexico". ZooKeys (245): 1–1722. doi:10.3897/zookeys.245.3416. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 3577090. PMID 23431087. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- International Plant Names Index. Rathvon.