John James Audubon
John James Audubon

Early Life

John James Audubon was born in 1785 as an illegitimate child in what is now Haiti. His birth name was Jean Rabin. He was raised in France by his stepmother. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in birds. At twelve, he attended military school and gained experience on ships, but he showed little interest in military matters and preferred studying nature.

Journey to America

In 1803, Audubon’s father sent him to the United States to avoid being drafted into the Napoleonic Wars. Upon arrival, Jean Rabin changed his name to John James Audubon, learned English while living in a Quaker boarding home, and later married Lucy Bakewell. He managed a farm near Philadelphia and became the first person in North America to band birds. He discovered that birds return to the same nesting place each year by tying yarn to an Eastern Phoebe’s legs.

Career in Art and Science

After several failed business ventures, Audubon devoted himself to painting birds. He traveled down the Mississippi River, shooting birds to use as models for his realistic paintings. He used wires to pose them naturally. Though criticized for killing many birds, his work was admired for its accuracy. Audubon failed to sell his pictures in America but became a sensation in London as the “American Woodsman.”

Publications and Later Life

Audubon raised funds in England to publish his famous book, Birds of America, in 1827. He later published more works and returned to America, where he bought an estate on the Hudson River. In 1842, Birds of America was published in the United States. He also had a home in Key West, Florida. The Audubon Society, founded in 1896, was named in his honor.

Audubon Gallery

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Discussion Questions

  1. Why did Audubon change his name when he came to the United States?
  2. How did Audubon’s method of studying birds differ from modern practices?
  3. Why was Audubon more successful in England than in America at first?
  4. What lasting impact did Audubon have on the study of birds and conservation?

Glossary

  • Ornithologist – A scientist who studies birds.
  • Napoleonic Wars – A series of wars involving Napoleon’s French Empire from 1803 to 1815.
  • Banding – Attaching a marker to a bird’s leg to track its movements.
  • Naturalist – A person who studies plants and animals in their natural environment.

Five Interesting Facts

  1. Audubon was born as Jean Rabin in what is now Haiti.
  2. He was the first person in North America to band birds for research.
  3. Audubon shot birds to paint them in lifelike poses.
  4. His book Birds of America is considered a masterpiece of natural illustration.
  5. The Audubon Society was named in his honor in 1896.

Timeline of John James Audubon’s Life

  • 1785 – Born as Jean Rabin in present-day Haiti.
  • 1797 – Sent to military school in France.
  • 1803 – Arrived in the United States; changed name to John James Audubon.
  • 1808 – Married Lucy Bakewell.
  • 1810 – First bird-banding experiment with Eastern Phoebe.
  • 1819 – Declared bankruptcy after failed business ventures.
  • 1820 – Began Mississippi River expedition to paint birds.
  • 1827 – Published Birds of America in London.
  • 1838 – Completed final volume of Birds of America.
  • 1842 – Bought estate on Hudson River; U.S. edition of Birds of America published.
  • 1848 – Died in New York.
  • 1896 – Audubon Society founded in his honor.

Early Life and Move to America

John James Audubon was born in 1785 in what is now Haiti. His birth name was Jean Rabin. He grew up in France, loved birds from an early age, and disliked military school. In 1803, he moved to the United States to avoid being drafted into the Napoleonic Wars. He changed his name, learned English, and married Lucy Bakewell.

Bird Studies and Art

Audubon managed a farm near Philadelphia and became the first person in North America to band birds. He tied yarn to an Eastern Phoebe’s legs to learn if birds return to the same nesting spots. After his businesses failed, he traveled down the Mississippi River painting birds. To make his pictures realistic, he shot birds and posed them with wires.

Fame and Legacy

Although Audubon struggled in America, he became famous in London, where people called him the “American Woodsman.” His famous book, Birds of America, was published in 1827. Later, he returned to America and bought an estate on the Hudson River. Audubon died in 1848, and in 1896 the Audubon Society was founded in his honor.
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