John James Audubon American naturalist, ornithologist and animal artist Date of Birth: 26.04.1785 Country: USA

Biography of John James Audubon

John James Audubon was an American naturalist, ornithologist, and animalist artist. He was born on April 26, 1785, in Les Cayes, Haiti, on his father's sugar plantation. He was the illegitimate son of Jean Audubon, a French naval officer from Brittany, and his lover, Jeanne Rabin, a 27-year-old maid from Les Touches, France. Audubon's mother died of a tropical disease when he was just a few months old, and his father resumed his relationship with Sanitte Bouffard, who took care of young John.

Audubon's father initially planned for him to become a sailor, but Audubon was prone to seasickness and had no interest in mathematics or navigation. When he came of age, Audubon boarded a ship with a fake passport and immigrated to the United States. He contracted yellow fever upon arrival in New York City and did not become the manager of his lead mines in Pennsylvania. Instead, Audubon became passionate about exploring American birds and illustrating his findings in a more realistic manner than most artists of his time.

In 1808, Audubon married Lucy Bakewell. Despite their precarious financial situation, they started a family. They had two sons, Victor Gifford and John Woodhouse Audubon, but tragically lost their daughter, Lucy, at the age of two. Another daughter named Rose lived for only nine months. Both sons assisted Audubon in publishing his works.

Audubon's groundbreaking work caught the attention of King George IV, who became a passionate supporter and subscriber. The Royal Society of London recognized Audubon's achievements and elected him as a member. In 1827, Audubon released the first of four volumes of "The Birds of America," a magnificent album nearly half the size of a person. He then presented the first of five volumes of "Ornithological Biography," co-authored with Scottish ornithologist William MacGillivray, in 1831. The final volume of "The Birds of America" was published in 1838, followed by the last volume of "Ornithological Biography" a year later.

In 1839, Audubon purchased an estate along the Hudson River, which is now Audubon Park. He hoped to describe even more species of rare birds, but his health began to decline. By 1848, Audubon himself noticed signs of old age and his "brilliant mind failing." He passed away on January 27, 1851, in his family home.

In 1905, the National Audubon Society was established with a primary mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, with a particular focus on bird conservation. On December 6, 2010, a copy of "The Birds of America" was sold at a Sotheby's auction for $11.5 million.