Louis Agassiz
Full Name and Common Aliases
Louis Agassiz was born Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz on May 28, 1807, in Mühlhausen, Switzerland.
Birth and Death Dates
May 28, 1807 - December 14, 1873
Nationality and Profession(s)
Agassiz held Swiss nationality but spent a significant portion of his life working in the United States. He was a polymath, exceling as an ornithologist, ichthyologist, glaciologist, and educator.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family of modest means, Agassiz was educated at home before attending the University of Erlangen in Germany. He later transferred to the University of Munich, where he earned his Ph.D. at the age of 21. After completing his formal education, Agassiz traveled extensively throughout Europe and North America, gathering specimens for his research.
Major Accomplishments
Agassiz's work was marked by several significant contributions to various fields:
- Development of the theory of glacial periods: He proposed that glaciers had once covered a large portion of the Earth's surface.
- Classification of fish: Agassiz developed the first comprehensive classification system for fish, recognizing over 1,000 species.
- Ornithology: His work on birds helped lay the foundation for modern ornithological research.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of his notable works include:
- "Recherches sur les poissons fossiles" (Research on Fossil Fish): A four-volume treatise published between 1833 and 1843, which described over 1,000 species of fossil fish.
- "Principles of Zoology": Co-authored with his student, Elizabeth Cabot Cary Agassiz (whom he later married), this work presented a comprehensive overview of zoological principles.
Impact and Legacy
Agassiz's influence extended far beyond the scientific community. He:
- Influenced American education: His emphasis on hands-on learning and experimentation helped shape the approach to science education in the United States.
- Advanced public understanding of science: Through his lectures and writings, Agassiz made complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Agassiz's quotes often reflect his emphasis on the importance of hands-on experience and observation in scientific inquiry. His legacy as a pioneer in various fields has inspired generations of scientists and educators.
Quotes by Louis Agassiz
The study of Nature is intercourse with the Highest Mind. You should never trifle with Nature.
The world has arisen in some way or another. How it originated is the great question, and Darwin’s theory, like all other attempts, to explain the origin of life, is thus far merely conjectural. I believe he has not even made the best conjecture possible in the present state of our knowledge.
One naturally asks, what was the use of this great engine set at work ages ago to grind, furrow, and knead over, as it were, the surface of the earth? We have our answer in the fertile soil which spreads over the temperate regions of the globe. The glacier was God’s great plough.
The world is the geologist’s great puzzle-box; he stands before it like the child to whom the separate pieces of his puzzle remain a mystery till he detects their relation and sees where they fit, and then his fragments grow at once into a connected picture beneath his hand.
I will frankly tell you that my experience in prolonged scientific investigations convinces me that a belief in God-a God who is behind and within the chaos of vanishing points of human knowledge-adds a wonderful stimulus to the man who attempts to penetrate into the regions of the unknown.
Every great scientific truth goes through three states: first, people say it conflicts with the Bible; next, they say it has been discovered before; lastly, they say they always believed it.