48 
HARTLAND NATURE CLUB 
obtaining a valuable training in commercial life, and at the same 
time developing his inherent genius for natural science. He con¬ 
ducted a mercantile business in Galena, Ill., for one year and in 
1860 became associated with P. T. Barnum in New York. Bar- 
num was at that time gathering scientific collections from all 
parts of the world for his museum and found in Mr. Damon a 
most ardent helper in this work. In 1862 Mr. Damon and Prof. 
Albert S. Bickmore, an assistant of Prof. Agassiz, of Harvard, 
conducted a scientific expedition to Bermuda, and succeeded in 
bringing back over 600 living specimens of tropical fish. On his 
return he became associated with Tiffany & Co., the New York 
jewelers, and for over forty years was part owner of the business 
and also superintendent of the credit department. But while 
thus engaged he did not give up his scientific activities. He was 
one of the founders and original directors of the New York 
aquarium, and his advice and assistance contributed in no small 
degree to its success and present popularity. Mr. Damon was the 
author of “Ocean Wonders” (1879) and in scientific circles he was 
a recognized authority in this specialty. He was a remarkable 
man who combined in the highest degree the qualities of com¬ 
mercial success and of rare scientific attainment. He was mar¬ 
ried at Windsor, Vermont, February 14, 1865, to Alma C. Otis, 
daughter of Timothy Bradford Otis. He was a member of the 
Mycological and the Naturalists Clubs of New York, the New 
York Scientific Alliance, the Microscopical, the Zoological, and 
the New England Societies of New York, and the Royal Micro¬ 
scopical Society of London. He died at Windsor, Vermont, De¬ 
cember 1, 1911, and is survived by his widow. 
