George Newbold Lawrence

George Newbold Lawrence (October 20, 1806 – January 17, 1895) was an American businessman and amateur ornithologist.^[1][2]

George Newbold Lawrence
Born	(1806-10-20)October 20, 1806 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	January 17, 1895(1895-01-17) (aged 88) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Businessman, ornithologist

Early life

Lawrence was born in the city of New York on October 20, 1806.^[1]

From his youth, Lawrence was a lover of birds and spent much of his spare time studying their habits. At sixteen years of age, he became a clerk in his father's business, becoming a partner in his father's house by age twenty.^[1]

Career

Lawrence conducted Pacific bird surveys for Spencer Fullerton Baird and John Cassin, and the three men co-authored Birds of North America in 1860.^[1]

He sold his collection of 8,000 bird skins to the American Museum of Natural History in 1887.^[3]

Fellow ornithologists honored him by naming one bird genus and 20 species after him,^[1] including both the scientific and common name of the Lawrence's goldfinch, first described by Cassin in 1852.^[4]

Personal life

Lawrence died on January 17, 1895, in New York City. His funeral was held at his residence, 45 East 21st Street in Manhattan.^[5] His wife died five days later on January 22, 1895. Their combined estates totaled $528,900 which were left to their two sons, Elmen N. Lawrence and John B. Lawrence.^[6]