Ernest Thompson Seton
Ernest Thompson Seton was an influential figure in the realms of naturalist art and youth outdoor programs, born on August 14, 1860, in South Shields, England. Following his family's immigration to Canada in 1866, Seton's early interests in art flourished, leading him to win a medal for his work before turning eighteen. He pursued studies at the Royal Academy of Art in London, but health issues cut his education short, prompting his return to Canada where he became increasingly fascinated by nature. Seton emerged as a prominent wildlife illustrator and naturalist, contributing significantly to natural history literature and conducting extensive research that informed his writings, including the acclaimed "Wild Animals I Have Known."
In the early 1900s, Seton founded the Woodcraft Indians organization and wrote guides for engaging youth in outdoor activities, advocating for the inclusion of younger boys in scouting. He played a pivotal role in the early Boy Scouts movement, serving as chief scout and proposing the concept of "cubs" for younger participants. Throughout his life, Seton authored over sixty books and hundreds of articles, earning several accolades, including the Silver Buffalo Award from the Boy Scouts. His legacy is marked by his commitment to nature education and the preservation of both wildlife and Native American culture.
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Ernest Thompson Seton
Author
- Born: August 14, 1860
- Birthplace: South Shields, Durham, England
- Died: October 23, 1946
- Place of death: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Biography
Ernest Thompson Seton was born in South Shields, Durham, England, on August 14, 1860, the eighth son in family of eleven brothers and sisters. His father, Joseph Seton, was a prosperous ship owner. However, Joseph Seton’s business failed and the family, with the exception of a two older brothers, immigrated to Canada in 1866. Joseph Seton tried farming but was unsuccessful, so he found a job as an accountant, and the family moved to Toronto in 1870.
From a young age, Seton was interested in art, and he was able to secure the patronage of a wealthy woman who was prominent in the Toronto art community. Prior to his eighteenth birthday, he won a medal for his art work. At nineteen, he won a seven-year scholarship to the Royal Academy of Art in London. Unfortunately, because of poor health and living conditions, he was unable to complete his studies. He returned to Manitoba, Canada, to try farming with two of his older brothers.
Seton was not a good farmer and was much more interested in his natural surroundings. He was befriended by naturalist William Brodie, who taught him natural history. While in Manitoba, Seton began to write articles about the area’s natural history. In 1881, he became the naturalist for the provincial government in Manitoba. He traveled to the United States in 1883, where he met other naturalists, ornithologists, and writers. Seton quickly developed a reputation as a wildlife illustrator, and he was commissioned to provide one thousand mammal drawings for use in the Century Dictionary. Many of these drawings were produced at the American Museum of Natural History, where Seton became friends with prominent New York naturalists. Seton studied art in Paris during the early 1890’s, and here he conducted research for his book Studies in the Art Anatomy of Animals (1896).
In 1902, the Ladies Home Journal contracted Seton to write a series of articles on woodcraft for young boys. In the same year, Seton established an organization called the Woodcraft Indians, and he later wrote a guide for the program called The Birch-Bark Roll of the Woodcraft Indians (1906). Around this time, he became involved with the Boy Scouts, and he served as chief scout between 1910 and 1915, when he left the organization. Seton proposed allowing younger boys into scouting, calling them the cubs of America. His idea was met with some opposition and was not adopted until much later. Seton also developed a children’s organization called the Woodcraft Rangers which encouraged the study of both nature and Native American culture.
During his lifetime, Seton wrote some four hundred articles and more than sixty books about natural history and Native Americans. One of his books, Wild Animals I Have Known has never been out of print since it was initially published in 1898. During his lifetime, Seton received many honors and awards, including the Silver Buffalo Award given by the Boy Scouts. for his dedication to the study and preservation of nature.