92 



Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 



Vol. 27, Art. 2 



death of W^alsh. This request was quite 

 unexpected, for entomology was only an 

 active side interest of this competent 

 ph\sician. 



Thin.^s which are half-said in history 

 pique the imagination. We find that Dr. 

 Goding (1885:123), in a biographical 

 sketch of Le Baron, had the following to 

 say: 



III 1870 two candidates appeared for the 

 oHice of Illinois State Entomologist made va- 

 cant hv the untimely death of the lamented 

 Walsh— Dr. Henry Shinier of Mt. Carroll 

 and Mr. Emery of the Prairie farmer, both 

 of whom were well qualified for the position. 

 For reasons that cannot be given at this time, 

 (iov. Palmer refused to appoint either, but 



named Dr. Le Baron for the place, taking him 

 entirely by surprise. 



Le Baron was a native of North An- 

 dover, Massachusetts, where he was born 

 October 17, 1814. He came from a line 

 of New England professional people ; his 

 father was a medical doctor and his 

 maternal grandfather was Dr. Thomas 

 Kittredge, a well known and highly re- 

 spected surgeon of his day. 



Le Baron's calling was decided at an 

 early point in his life. After studying 

 medicine under an uncle, Dr. Joseph Kitt- 

 redge, he practiced for several years in his 

 home town. Later he completed his medi- 

 cal studies and was graduated froin the 



William Le Baron, State Entomologist, 1870-1875. 



