John Merle Coulter


John Merle Coulter, Ph. D. was an American botanist and educator. In his career in education administration, Coulter is notable for serving as the president of Indiana University and Lake Forest College and the head of the Department of Botany at the University of Chicago.

Early life and education

John Merle Coulter was born in Ningpo, China to missionary parents Caroline Elvira Crowe and Moses Stanley Coulter. His brother was the botanist Stanley Coulter. He graduated from Hanover College in Indiana receiving the degree A.B. in 1870, followed by an A.M. in 1873 and Ph.D. in 1883 from the University of Indiana. Indiana University conferred a pro merito Ph.D. to Coulter in 1884 while he was serving as Professor of Botany at Wabash College. He married Georgie M. Gaylord of Delphi, Indiana on January 1, 1874.

Career

John Merle Coulter held the following positions:
In 1901, Coulter was the general secretary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and in 1918 served as the Association's president. From 1897 to 1898, he was the president of the Botanical Society of America.

Survival of the sinking of ''Republic''

In 1909, Coulter and his wife, along with their children Grace and Merle, survived the sinking of the White Star liner in which six were killed.

Later life

While employed at the Boyce Thompson Institute, Coulter died from heart disease at his home in Yonkers, New York, on December 23, 1928 at the age of 77.

Notable works

John Merle Coulter's published works include:
In 1875, Coulter founded the Botanical Gazette and thereafter continued to be its editor.

Legacy and contributions

As president of Indiana University

Coulter's student, Henry Chandler Cowles played a significant role in documenting the ecological importance of the Indiana Dunes. Many conservationists attempted to preserve parts of the Indiana Dunes.