Leo Lesquereux (1806-1889)

America's first paleobotanist, also a leading bryologist despite his failure to obtain permanent scientific employment. Specialized in Paleozoic fossils.

Career:

No formal education. Born and raised in Neuchatel, Switzerland.
Instructor of French, Eisenach, Saxony, about 1825-about 1832
Watchmaker, about 1832-1844
Researcher on peat bogs, Swiss government, 1844-1848
Paleobotanical assistant, L. Agassiz, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, 1848 (also said to have continued through 1850), 1867-1872 (apparently as a summer employee)
Jeweler, bryologist, and freelance paleobotanist describing material collected by state and national geological surveys, based in Columbus, Ohio, 1848-?

Studied under:

Students:

Colleagues:

J. Allen (MCZ)
A. Gray (Harvard University)
H. Hagen (MCZ)

Key publications:

Manual of the Mosses of North America (1884: with T. P. James)
Description of the Coal Flora of the Carboniferous Formation in Pennsylvania and Throughout the U.S. (1879, 1884)

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