John Muir's Influence On American Naturalism

John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to save the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. John Muir was one of the earliest advocates of the national park idea, and its most eloquent spokesman.

John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland, on April 21, 1838. He was the third of Daniel and Anne Gilrye Muir's eight children. In 1849 the Muirs moved to the United States and bought farmland near Portage, Wisconsin. Muir's father, a Presbyterian minister, treated him harshly . His father worked him hard on the farm and would not allow him to waste any time on lollygagging. Keeping his children in line with frequent whippings, and insisting that he memorize the Bible. By age 11, he was able to recite three-quarters of the Old Testament by heart, and all of the New Testament.

He left with $15 in his pocket and his father's advice, "Depend entirely on yourself". He rode the train to Madison, Wisconsin, made his way to the State Fair and displayed his inventions. People were fascinated. He won a prize and a diploma. An article about him appeared in the Eastern newspapers. His father had never praised him for anything while he was growing up for fear of filling him with a sinful pride. Concerning the newspaper article John wrote, "I was afraid to read those kind newspaper notices, and never clipped out or preserved any of them, just glanced at them and turned away my eyes from beholding