When being the most influential individual in history, it will never necessarily mean that it should be concluded that you are the most influential. If there was an underlying message Charles Davenport’s life had proved, it was this. Charles Davenport was born on June 1, 1866, and lived until February 18, 1944. Davenport may not have been the most famous scientist of his era; however, he had accompli
shed in becoming an extremely prominent biologist, while making a very significant mark in literature. He had written many books referring to his strong interest with eugenics, as well as his interests in other branches of science: zoology, biology, and taxonomy. Davenport continues to make strong developments within the subject of new quantitative standards of taxonomy. When one continues to make new developments of their passion once they have passed, it can only mean one thing…their passion and talent must have contrasted into amazing, and influential accomplishments throughout their career when they were alive.
An open mind and a respect for other subjects will lead one to never-limiting accomplishments. Davenport’s original passion was zoology; however, his
Career teaching zoology at Harvard University, he had the potential to branch out into other forms of science, and indeed, he had. Davenport’s interest in other branches of science had begun with an open mind for other ideas and branches that the general subject of science had to offer. While teaching at Harvard, Davenport’s respect for the biometric approach to evolution had begun to blossom, which led to his many accomplishments within the subject of eugenics.
If one ever had the opportunity to specify a field in which they are best known for, we must not focus on the beginning, but the pinnacle of their career. Although you can always state that one’s main passion must always begin at the beginning of their career, this does not always have to be true. With Charles Davenport, his main passion had not been zoology-the scientific field in which began in-but the scientific field he had discovered while teaching zoology-Eugenics. For Davenport had made the biggest impact in Eugenics and had not continued with zoology once he had discovered his passion for Eugenics.
Davenport’s interest in Eugenics furthered his career in ways zoology ne
ver would have. Why Eugenics? Because Eugenics was what Davenport had a passion for, indeed he had been lucky enough to find it by chance. Beginning his career regarding Eugenics, Davenport had quickly become the director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in 1910, soon after Davenport had founded the Eugenics Record Office. His increasing passion and admiration for Eugenics had quickly led him to studying human heredity, and to promoting Eugenics. Eugenics had given Davenport his greatest accomplishment. Davenport’s wonder with Eugenics led him to writing Hereditary in Relation to Eugenics in 1911. This had become such an inspirational and major work that for many years, it had been used as a college textbook. This work had brought Davenport so much success that only one year after it had been published, Davenport was elected to the National Academy f Sciences.
One factor that served as an addition to Charles Davenport’s reputation as an extremely prominent biologist was the fact that he pioneered new quantitative standards of taxonomy. This factor plays such a major role in Davenport’s reputation because it continues to the current scientific theories and developments. Our scientific society today continues to study the subject of taxonomy, and when they do, the first factor to study are the main facts brought up by Davenport.
Many people whom wish to be successful automatically fixate on how to become famous, when in reality they should worry their talent and perseverance that they can convey and exude to the public. It may or may not give them fame, but it most definitely will earn them respect, which is more important anyway. It had been the strategy that Charles Davenport incorporated into his very own career, and clearly, it worked very well for him.
Bibliography:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Davenport