SPENCER FULLERTON BAIRD 279 



As early as 1850, he was honored by Dickinson College with a 

 Degree of Doctor of Physics, and in 1875, tnat f Doctor of Laws 

 from Columbia University. In 1878, he received the silver medal 

 of the Acclimatization Society of Melbourne. In 1879, the gold 

 medal of the Society of Acclimatization of France, and in 1880, the 

 erster Ehrenpriez of the International Fischerei Ausstellung at 

 Berlin, given him by his majesty the Emperor of Germany. From 

 the King of Norway and Sweden he received in 1875 the decora- 

 tion of Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olaf. 



Professor Baird was one of the early members of the National 

 Academy of Sciences, and a member of its council, and but for 

 his extreme modesty many more honors would have been conferred 

 upon him. He was one of the early secretaries of the Society of 

 the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He 

 was a trustee in numerous institutions, among them the Corcoran 

 Art Gallery, and Columbia University. He was also President of 

 the Cosmos Society and many scientific societies in this country. 



Foreign societies vied with those of this country in doing him 

 honor. He was a member of the Linnaean Society of London, the 

 Zoological Society, Honorary Member of the Linnaean Society 

 of New South Wales, and a member of all the leading French, 

 German and Italian scientific bodies. While this short paper 

 can only be considered a glance at the fine picture presented by 

 this well-rounded life, and of necessity devoted to his public works 

 and utilities, I cannot pass by the social and home life of the great 

 naturalist. Those who knew him will remember the genial hos- 

 pitality, the firm grasp of his hand, the strong ring of his friend- 

 ship, the fine sense of honor, and the full measure of the personal 

 graces with which nature had invested him. 



To me he was that ideal, the type of the American gentleman of 

 the old school which should be perpetuated. He was a type to be 

 held up as an example of what an American boy can accomplish, 

 what an American citizen can attain. His home life was an inspira- 

 tion, and its charm was realized by a large contingent of friends 

 and acquaintances from many lands, who shared in it, and the 

 graceful hospitality dispensed by his gifted wife and daughter. 



