1877-1962

American Naturalist and Explorer

Despite an early, brilliant career in ornithology that took him on scientific expeditions from Nova Scotia to South America to the Himalayas, Dr. William Beebe is best remembered for his exploration and observations of the deep sea. With engineer Otis Barton, Beebe was the first to make direct study of the ocean and marine life within a tethered vessel a half mile down. In addition to his scientific pursuits, Beebe wrote nearly 300 articles and books, including Half Mile Down (1943) about his trips into the depths of the sea.

Born on July 29, 1877, to a paper dealer and a homemaker, Charles William Beebe grew up in East Orange, New Jersey. Young Will's family encouraged an interest in nature, taking trips to the American Museum of Natural History during which the boy would bring specimens to be identified. Because his family was...