William Sansom Vaux
Encyclopedia
William Sansom Vaux was an American
mineralogist. He was born in Philadelphia. He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences
in 1834, and served it in various capacities in the next forty-eight years, including vice-president. He was also a member of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia and one of the original members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
Vaux made several trips to Europe to collect mineral specimens, and by his death his collection was considered to be the finest in the United States. He bequeathed his mineral and archaeological collections to the Academy, along with his library and an endowment for their preservation.
Vaux was one of eight founders of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, its senior vice-president. From 1871 till his death he was treasurer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
. Vaux also served as president of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia.
He is commemorated in the name of Vaux's Swift
, which was first discovered by his friend John Kirk Townsend
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mineralogist. He was born in Philadelphia. He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
in 1834, and served it in various capacities in the next forty-eight years, including vice-president. He was also a member of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia and one of the original members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Vaux made several trips to Europe to collect mineral specimens, and by his death his collection was considered to be the finest in the United States. He bequeathed his mineral and archaeological collections to the Academy, along with his library and an endowment for their preservation.
Vaux was one of eight founders of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, its senior vice-president. From 1871 till his death he was treasurer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. Vaux also served as president of the Zoological Society of Philadelphia.
He is commemorated in the name of Vaux's Swift
Vaux's Swift
Vaux's Swift is a small swift native to North America and northern South America. It was named for the American scientist William Sansom Vaux.-Description:...
, which was first discovered by his friend John Kirk Townsend
John Kirk Townsend
John Kirk Townsend was an American naturalist, ornithologist and collector.Townsend was born in Philadelphia and trained as a physician and pharmacist. He developed an interest in natural history in general and bird collecting in particular...
.
External links
- The Vaux Family Papers, including correspondence, journals, records and other miscellaneous papers, are available for research use at the Historical Society of PennsylvaniaHistorical Society of PennsylvaniaThe Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historical society founded in 1824 and based in Philadelphia. The Society's building, designed by Addison Hutton and listed on Philadelphia's Register of Historical Places, houses some 600,000 printed items and over 19 million manuscript and graphic items...
.