John James Audubon

Audubon met Henslow, Sedgwick, Whewell, Buckland, Swainson, Lawrence and the aged Bewick on a visit to England; the last two helped him find subscribers for his folios of bird prints. Cuvier, met in Paris, described his work as magnificent. Humboldt had been met in America: they corresponded for over 60 years. The 17-year-old Baird wrote describing two birds new to science; Audubon gave him part of his collection of stuffed birds, assisting a hugely influential scientist’s development. D’Orbigny was a childhood friend in France. It is however a myth spread by Audubon that he studied with Jacques-Louis David.