Fernald, Charles Henry

Charles Fernald was born in Maine on March 16, 1838. At 21, he entered Maine Wesleyan Seminary with the intent of becoming a ship’s captain. After 3 years of study he joined the Union Navy and served 3 years during the American Civil War. In the Navy, he also was able to take courses, completing the requirements of Bowdoin College for a B.A. degree, which he received. After the war he became principal of Litchfield Academy, then of Houlton Academy, both in Maine. In the last of the positions, he studied geology, botany, zoology and entomology on his own, and then received in 1871 a M.A. degree from Bowdoin College. That same year, he was made a professor of natural history in Maine State College. In addition to teaching, he studied and published on insects. In 1886 he moved to Massachusetts Agricultural College as professor of zoology and lecturer (Fig. 18) in veterinary science, and occupied this position until his retirement in 1910. The Hatch Act made Federal funds available to...