Henry David Thoreau, born and raised Massachusetts, and from a young age loved all things nature. He studied how plant seeds are spread and came up with the theory of forest succession. Known as an observer and naturalist. He graduated from the prestigious Harvard in 1837. Thoreau publish his classic book, Walden, about the ties between people and nature. His book discussed embracing life in the woods. This was not his first published book but the book that set the path for him to be known as a naturalist. The book describes the years he spent at Walden Pond and how he embraced nature and the simplicity of his surroundings.
His philosophy on how to live naturally created a path for modern environmentalist ideals that are sill applied today. Thoreau is mostly however recognized for his environmental endeavor form later years of his life, where he also became more politically active. He was constantly aware of what he used, intentional about what was necessary and what was waste He can be remember for saying,
“Thank God men cannot fly, and waste the sky as well as the earth.”
He as sadden by the way he saw how wasteful humans were. Treating the environment with respect was imperative to him. Also saying,
“What we call wildness is a civilization other than our own. In wildness is the preservation of the world”
He passed away on May 6, 1862 because of tuberculosis at the age of 44. His work and forward thinking was beyond his lifetime and he will forever be remembered for creating a path in environmentalism.
In reference to: https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2011/07/13/10013/its-easy-being-green-happy-birthday-henry-david-thoreau/
Applied Plant Ecology Winter 2020 