THE LIFE OF TOWNEND GLOVER. 



Prof. Towneud Glover, tbe first entoniologist of the United States 

 Departiueut of Agriculture, was born at Eio de Janeiro, February 20, 

 1813. His paternal grandfather was Mr. Samuel Glover, a merchant of 

 Leeds, England. His father, Mr. Henry Glover, an only son (though 

 there were several daughters) married Miss Mary Townend, of Learning 

 Lane, Yorkshire, and was engaged in commercial pursuits at Rio de Ja- 

 neiro when Townend Glover was born. His mother dying, after a few days 

 illness, when he was about six weeks old, he was sent to his relatives in 

 England; and, upon the death of his father, which occurred some six 

 years later, he was taken in charge of by his paternal grandmother 

 and maiden aunt in Leeds. Here his education began, as he was i>laced 

 in a private school of high reputation, of which the Rev. Mr. Holmes was 

 ])reoeptor. 



By nature the boy Townend was of a reserved disposition, making 

 few close friendships outside the immediate circle of his own family. 

 He was, nevertheless, abounding in high animal spirits, possessed of a 

 strong sense of fun and humor, which always made him an agreeable and 

 entertaining companion to those with whom he was wont to associate. 

 In his studies at school ho showed a fair degree of aptness, and being 

 endowed with good abilities he is said to have acquitted himself with 

 unfailing credit, and without any special effort on his part. 



Even in boyhood his luve for drawing showed itself, chiefly in cari- 

 cature of the people about him, admirably done at that early period, it 

 is said, his efforts sometimes bringing the youthful artist into trouble. 



The beginning of his love for entomology dates back to these early 

 school-boy days, at which time, in company with the one congenial and 

 intimate friend of his boyhood, a lad with similar tastes, he was already 

 interested in making a collection of insects, which, it is said, he prepared 

 and mounted with skill. As a boy he was very clever with his hands 

 in anything requiring care and nicety, and was singularly quick and apt. 

 And not only was he drawn towards the insect world, but natural history 

 in all its branches, and even botany, had an early and peculiar fascina- 

 tion for him. Upon leaving school, we are told that 3"0ung Glover was 

 prevailed upon by his friends to enter the warehouse of a firm of Leeds 

 merchants, with a view to acquiring a knowledge of the woolen goods 



