John James Audubon
John James Audubon (born
Jean-Jacques Rabin, April 26, 1785 – January 27, 1851) was a French-American
self-trained artist,
naturalist, and
ornithologist. His combined interests in art and ornithology turned into a plan to make a complete pictorial record of all the bird species of North America. He was notable for his extensive studies documenting all types of American birds and for his detailed illustrations, which depicted the birds in their natural habitats. His major work, a color-plate book titled ''
The Birds of America'' (1827–1839), is considered one of the finest ornithological works ever completed. Audubon is also known for identifying 25 new species. He is the eponym of the
National Audubon Society, and his name adorns a large number of towns, neighborhoods, and streets across the
United States. Dozens of scientific names first published by Audubon are still in use by the scientific community. In recent years, his legacy has become controversial for his involvement in slavery and his racist writings, as well as allegations of dishonesty.
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