Tryon Reakirt
Encyclopedia
Tryon Reakirt was an American entomologist.
He was interested in the Lepidoptera
of the Americas
and the Philippines
and published nine articles in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia and a tenth in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the last appearing in 1868. William Henry Edwards
(1822–1909) regarded him as one of the best North-American specialists in the Rhopalocera.
Some details of his life are known from a correspondence which he exchanged with Ferdinand Heinrich Hermann Strecker
(1836–1901), as well as letters written by his father, John Reakirt. In August 1868, he tried to sell his collection via Strecker to the New York Lyceum (today American Museum of Natural History
) for 1800 dollars but he learned more than one year more that this sum was not to be had. He then tried to sell it to Reading
Natural History Society for 1400 dollars. But there too, the discussions failed.
F.H.H. Strecker then purchased the collection and an agreement of payment was then established. But F.H.H. Strecker did not honour any of the payments envisaged, plunging Reakirt into great financial distress. The correspondence between the two men ceased after a last letter dated August 18, 1870. At the beginning of 1871, Reakirt left the United States of America for Lima
in Peru. A little time after, the two companies which he had founded filed for bankruptcy and an investigation was opened against Reakirt.
Reakirt then began a new series of correspondence with F.H.H. Strecker. He inquired in particular to know the countries not having an agreement of extradition with the United States. He lived then under the name of T Thomas Reugert. In other missives, Reakirt considers a system allowing him, thanks to Strecker, to invest funds with the New York Stock Exchange
. The last preserved envelope is empty but the postal seal suggests that Reakirt was then in Rio de Janeiro
. It is known only that he was sick with dysentery
. This is the last known news of Reakirt. The investigation was finally closed after the death of his father, John Reakirt and the supposed death of Tryon Reakirt.
The Reakirt collection, incorporated in that of F.H.H. Strecker, joined those preserved by the natural history museum of the Academy of Sciences of Chicago.
He was interested in the Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
of the Americas
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...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and published nine articles in the Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia and a tenth in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, the last appearing in 1868. William Henry Edwards
William Henry Edwards
William Henry Edwards was an important entomologist in the United States.Edwards was born in Hunter, Greene County, New York. He is remembered for his trip to the Amazon in 1846, that he recorded in his book A Voyage Up the River Amazon, with a residency at Pará , that inspired Wallace and Bates...
(1822–1909) regarded him as one of the best North-American specialists in the Rhopalocera.
Some details of his life are known from a correspondence which he exchanged with Ferdinand Heinrich Hermann Strecker
Ferdinand Heinrich Hermann Strecker
Ferdinand Heinrich Hermann Strecker was an American entomologist specialising in butterflies and moths ....
(1836–1901), as well as letters written by his father, John Reakirt. In August 1868, he tried to sell his collection via Strecker to the New York Lyceum (today American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
) for 1800 dollars but he learned more than one year more that this sum was not to be had. He then tried to sell it to Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
Natural History Society for 1400 dollars. But there too, the discussions failed.
F.H.H. Strecker then purchased the collection and an agreement of payment was then established. But F.H.H. Strecker did not honour any of the payments envisaged, plunging Reakirt into great financial distress. The correspondence between the two men ceased after a last letter dated August 18, 1870. At the beginning of 1871, Reakirt left the United States of America for Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
in Peru. A little time after, the two companies which he had founded filed for bankruptcy and an investigation was opened against Reakirt.
Reakirt then began a new series of correspondence with F.H.H. Strecker. He inquired in particular to know the countries not having an agreement of extradition with the United States. He lived then under the name of T Thomas Reugert. In other missives, Reakirt considers a system allowing him, thanks to Strecker, to invest funds with the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. The last preserved envelope is empty but the postal seal suggests that Reakirt was then in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
. It is known only that he was sick with dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
. This is the last known news of Reakirt. The investigation was finally closed after the death of his father, John Reakirt and the supposed death of Tryon Reakirt.
The Reakirt collection, incorporated in that of F.H.H. Strecker, joined those preserved by the natural history museum of the Academy of Sciences of Chicago.