George Thurber (Providence, Rhode Island, September 2, 1821 –Passaic, New Jersey, April 2, 1890) was a United Statesnaturalist and writer.[1] He had a special interest in grasses of the United States.[2]
He was mainly self-educated, though he did spend time at the Union Classical and Engineering School at Providence.[2] He became a pharmacist, and lectured on chemistry at theFranklin Society in Providence. In 1850, he secured an appointment as botanist, quartermaster and commissary on asurvey of the boundary between the United States and Mexico.[1][2] He made an important collection of plants, and on his return to Providence was given the degree of A.M. byBrown University. He secured an appointment in theAssay Office in New York, lectured on botany inCooper Institute and on botany and materia medica in theNew York College of Pharmacy. Later he occupied the chair of botany and horticulture in theMichigan College of Agriculture but returned again to New York and to lecture at the College of Pharmacy and in 1863 became editor of theAmerican Agriculturist, where he worked for 24 years. In 1880 he visited Europe.[1]
He was life member of theRoyal Horticultural Society, life member of theAmerican Pomological Society, an active member of theNew York Academy of Sciences and corresponding member of thePhiladelphia Academy.[1] From 1873 to 1880, he was theTorrey Botanical Club's president.[2] His collection of plants from the western United States is in theGray Herbarium atHarvard University.[1]
Thurber was awarded an honorary degree fromBrown University in 1865.[3]
The standardauthor abbreviationThurb. is used to indicate this person as the author whenciting abotanical name.[4]
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