184 LEADING AMERICAN MEN OF SCIENCE 



membrance of me, I am, gentlemen, with the kindest regards and 

 best wishes, 



"Always sincerely yours, 



" [Signed] J. WYMAN. 



"Drs. J. T. G. Nichols, Francis H. Brown, H. P. Walcott, Nor- 

 ton Folsom, H. E. Townsend." 



His forethought and personal attention to details were nowhere 

 more clearly shown than in his preparations for expeditions, or for 

 the annual flight to Florida or South America. In no other way 

 can we account for the extent of the collections and information 

 gathered during these absences from Cambridge. In fact, his 

 vacations were only alternations of work; and his European tours 

 in 1853 and 1870 were less occasions of rest to himself than of gain 

 to the institutions with which he was connected. 



Wyman was chosen to the Phi Beta Kappa, and attended 

 the annual meetings; he was not a Mason or a member of any 

 other secret organization. He did not smoke, and used wine with 

 moderation upon occasion. 



Professor Wyman was twice married; in December, 1850, to 

 Adeline Wheelwright, who died in 1855, leaving two daughters; 

 in August, i8i, to Annie Williams Whitney, who died in Febru- 

 ary, 1864, shortly after the birth of an only son; there survive 

 the son and the younger daughter; see note to p. 172. 



The following statements are derived from the memoir of Asa 

 Gray (see note to p. 172). 



"Although Wyman's salary, derived from the Hersey endow- 

 ment (see p. 178) was slender indeed, he adapted his wants to his 

 means, foregoing neither his independence nor his scientific work. 

 In 1856 came unexpected and honorable aid from two old friends 

 of his father who appreciated the son and wished him to go on 

 with his scientific work without distraction. Dr. William J. 

 Walker sent him ten thousand dollars outright. Thomas Lee, 

 who had also helped in his early education, supplemented the en- 

 dowment of the Hersey professorship with an equal sum, stipu- 

 lating that the income should go to Wyman during life, whether 

 he held the chair or not. Seldom, if ever, has a moderate sum 

 produced a greater benefit. 



