John Muir

John Muir
John Muir, c. 1902
Born	(1838-04-21)April 21, 1838 Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Died	December 24, 1914(1914-12-24) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California
Cause of death	Pneumonia
Occupation	Engineer, naturalist, philosopher, writer, botanist, geologist
Known for	Founder of Sierra Club
Spouse(s)	Louisa Wanda Strentzel (1847–1905) (m. 1880–1905)
Children	Wanda Muir Hanna (March 25, 1881 – July 29, 1942) and Helen Muir Funk ( January 23, 1886 – June 7, 1964)
Parent(s)	Daniel Muir and Ann Gilrye
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John Muir (/mjʊər/; April 21, 1838 – December 24, 1914) also known as "John of the Mountains", was an influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, glaciologist and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books describing his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada, have been read by millions. His activism has helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and many other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is a prominent American conservation organization. The 211-mile (340 km) John Muir Trail, a hiking trail in the Sierra Nevada, was named in his honor. Other such places include Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, John Muir College, Mount Muir, Camp Muir and Muir Glacier. In Scotland, the John Muir Way, a 130-mile-long route, was named in honor of him.

In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite National Park. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings has inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. Today Muir is referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life.