Graham Fairchild
Encyclopedia
Alexander Graham Bell Fairchild (1906–1994) was an American entomologist, and a member of the Fairchild family
, descendants of Thomas Fairchild of Stratford
, Connecticut
.
Born in 1906 in Washington, D.C.
, Fairchild was one of two grandsons of the famous inventor, Alexander Graham Bell
. As most entomologists do, Fairchild began his life-long love affair with nature collecting butterflies
in the fields and forests where he lived. At the age of 15, as an avid butterfly collector, Fairchild was introduced to the intense, complex world of the American ("New World") tropical forests by his father, David Fairchild
, the famous botanist and plant explorer. Young Fairchild was given a week in Juan Mina, a long canoe ride up from civilization on the Chagres River
in Panama
, in 1921. The experience hooked Fairchild on tropical America
for good. After several more years travelling with his father on plant collecting expeditions, Fairchild realized he needed to focus on something likely to provide a paying job.
In 1932, during the Great Depression
, Fairchild began working toward a Ph.D.
in Biology
from Harvard
. Encouraged by his faculty advisor, Prof. Joseph Bequaert, Fairchild chose the Tabanidae, a family of insects known as "horse flies". Tabanids are worldwide, numerous, and taxonomically complex. Since some bite humans and thus carry disease, Fairchild realized they would allow him to spend his life studying nature in the tropics. His thesis
, naturally, was on the Tabanidae of Panama. Returning to Panama in 1938, Fairchild stayed for the next 32 years, doing research on biting insects and ticks, especially tabanids. He was a staff entomologist at the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, becoming Acting Director. The Gorgas Memorial Laboratory was funded both by Congress
and the Republic of Panamá for research in entomology
, epidemiology
, and tropical medicine
. During those years, Fairchild published over 80 scientific papers and books and promoted field work in Panama to anyone who would listen. In 1978, to honor his efforts, the Universidad de Panamá named its Invertebrate Museum after Fairchild. Upon his retirement, Fairchild moved to Gainesville
, Florida
, where for the next 25 years, he continued to publish papers and advise graduate students and fellow scientists around the world. In retirement and without pay, he organized the collections of Neotropical Tabanidae at the University of Florida
and later at the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Fairchild received numerous honors during his life, including the American Entomological Society
's Entomologist of the Year. Over 33 species of insects are named after him by other entomologists. Before his death, in 1994 at the age of 88, he published 138 research papers in scientific journal
s on various entomological subjects.
Fairchild family
The Fairchild family has long roots in New England, United States. They descend from Thomas Fairchild who came from England in 1639 and settled in Stratford, Connecticut, a part of the fledgling New Haven Colony.-Genealogy:...
, descendants of Thomas Fairchild of Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
.
Born in 1906 in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, Fairchild was one of two grandsons of the famous inventor, Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell
Alexander Graham Bell was an eminent scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with inventing the first practical telephone....
. As most entomologists do, Fairchild began his life-long love affair with nature collecting butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the fields and forests where he lived. At the age of 15, as an avid butterfly collector, Fairchild was introduced to the intense, complex world of the American ("New World") tropical forests by his father, David Fairchild
David Fairchild
David Grandison Fairchild was an American botanist and plant explorer. Fairchild was responsible for the introduction of more than 200,000 exotic plants and varieties of established crops into the United States, including soybeans, pistachios, mangos, nectarines, dates, bamboos, and flowering...
, the famous botanist and plant explorer. Young Fairchild was given a week in Juan Mina, a long canoe ride up from civilization on the Chagres River
Chagres River
The Chagres River is a river in central Panama. The central part of the river is dammed by the Gatun Dam and forms Gatun Lake, an artificial lake that constitutes part of the Panama Canal. Upstream lies the Madden Dam, creating the Alajuala Lake that is also part of the Canal water system...
in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, in 1921. The experience hooked Fairchild on tropical America
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
for good. After several more years travelling with his father on plant collecting expeditions, Fairchild realized he needed to focus on something likely to provide a paying job.
In 1932, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Fairchild began working toward a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
from Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Encouraged by his faculty advisor, Prof. Joseph Bequaert, Fairchild chose the Tabanidae, a family of insects known as "horse flies". Tabanids are worldwide, numerous, and taxonomically complex. Since some bite humans and thus carry disease, Fairchild realized they would allow him to spend his life studying nature in the tropics. His thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
, naturally, was on the Tabanidae of Panama. Returning to Panama in 1938, Fairchild stayed for the next 32 years, doing research on biting insects and ticks, especially tabanids. He was a staff entomologist at the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory, becoming Acting Director. The Gorgas Memorial Laboratory was funded both by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and the Republic of Panamá for research in entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
, epidemiology
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
, and tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
. During those years, Fairchild published over 80 scientific papers and books and promoted field work in Panama to anyone who would listen. In 1978, to honor his efforts, the Universidad de Panamá named its Invertebrate Museum after Fairchild. Upon his retirement, Fairchild moved to Gainesville
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, where for the next 25 years, he continued to publish papers and advise graduate students and fellow scientists around the world. In retirement and without pay, he organized the collections of Neotropical Tabanidae at the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and later at the Florida State Collection of Arthropods. Fairchild received numerous honors during his life, including the American Entomological Society
American Entomological Society
The American Entomological Society was founded on March 1, 1859. It is the oldest continuously-operating entomological society in the Western Hemisphere, and one the oldest scientific societies in the United States. It is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
's Entomologist of the Year. Over 33 species of insects are named after him by other entomologists. Before his death, in 1994 at the age of 88, he published 138 research papers in scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
s on various entomological subjects.