THE LIFE OF TOWNEND GLOVER. 
Prof. Townend Glover, the first entomologist of the United States 
Department of Agriculture, was born at Rio 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 placed 
in a private school of high reputation, of which the Rev. Mr. Holmes was 
preceptor. 
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 he 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 love 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 young 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 
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