[83] Robert Owen (1771-1858) was a prominent English socialist and propagandist. Rising from the ranks of workingmen, by shrewd business capacity he acquired a fortune, which he devoted to the improvement of the conditions of working people, and to the spread of principles of co-operation and education. His factory and schools at New Lanark, Scotland, became famous, and were visited by eminent reformers. He was also instrumental in securing the first Factory Act, protecting the rights of children. In 1825 he purchased New Harmony, Indiana, for the purpose of establishing a co-operative community. Owen's connection with this experiment was dissolved about 1828, although his sons remained on the property many years. The latter years of his life were entirely devoted to theoretical discussion, erratic journalism, and socialistic experimentation. He is considered the founder of the co-operative movement in England.
William Maclure (1763-1840), a wealthy merchant, geologist, and philanthropist, made an unsuccessful attempt (1819) to found an agricultural school at Alicaut, Spain, for the benefit of the poorer classes. In 1824 he went with Robert Owen to New Harmony and took charge of the educational department. The following year, however, together with a hundred and fifty followers, he withdrew to found Macluria. Later, they purchased the New Harmony establishment, and for a short time conducted a school of industry destined to early failure. In 1827, because of failing health, he went to Mexico, where he died (1840).—Ed.
[84] Jean Baptiste Audebert (1759-1800), an eminent French painter, engraver, and naturalist, published A Natural History of Apes, Lemurs, and Galeopitheci, with numerous plates (1800), and A History of Humming Birds, Fly Catchers, Jacamars and Promerap (1 vol., 1802). Audebert at his death left unfinished several works on birds, subsequently edited by Vieillot and Destray.—Ed.
[85] See Plate 8, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.—Ed.
[86] See Plate 25, in the accompanying atlas, our volume xxv.—Ed.
[87] Cervus major, or Canadensis. I have retained the American name of elk for this animal, but it must not be confounded with the elendthier (Cervus alces), which is sometimes called elk, in Prussia. The name wapiti, given to it by the English, which is derived from one of the Indian languages, ought never to be used, because it is scarcely known to anybody, even in America.—Maximilian.
[88] Edward Pöppig (1798-1868) was educated as a naturalist at Leipzig. He travelled in Cuba and the United States (1822-24), and subsequently went to South America, returning to Germany in 1832. In 1845 he was elected professor of zoölogy at the University of Leipzig and died in 1868. He wrote Reise in Chila, Peru und auf dem Amazonenstromer (Leipzig, 1835-36), and Landschaftliche Ansichten und erläuterude Darstellungen aus dem Gebiete der Erdbunde (Leipzig, 1838).
For Mrs. Trollope, see Wyeth's Oregon, in our volume xxi, p. 44, note 24; for Doctor Drake, see Flint's Letters, in our volume ix, p. 121, note 61.—Ed.
[89] For a brief sketch of Lesueur, see our volume xvi, p. 138, note 60.
Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752-1840) was a distinguished professor in the University of Göttingen. As a recognition of his ability, he was in 1812 elected secretary of the Royal Society of Sciences.—Ed.