Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (Agassiz Jean Louis Rodolphe)

(1807-1873)
Born May 28, 1807 at Motiers (Switzerland). He studied in Zurich, Heidelberg and Munich University. In 1830 received his doctorate in medicine. In 1832-1845 he was a professor of natural history at the University of Neuchц?tel. In 1846 he moved to the U.S.. In 1847-1873 - Professor of Zoology University of Cambridge (pc. Massachusetts), professor of comparative anatomy Charlstonskogo Medical College (pc. South Carolina), Professor of Natural History, Cornell University (pc. New York). Agassiz actively engaged in the creation of museums at the universities, in particular, founded the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Cambridge, took part in the creation of museums in Boston, Chicago and New York.
Basic research Agassiz - ichthyology and glaciology. Agassiz - by five-volume work The study of fossil fish (Recherches sur les Poissons Fossiles, . 1833-1843), . gave a new science - paleoihtiologii, . as well as several works of fish in Europe and South America (Brazil), . on fossil and modern echinoderms,
. His research in the field of glaciology formed the basis for the theory of glacial periods in the history of the Earth. The results of research on glaciology outlined in his book The study of glaciers (tudes sur les Glaciers, 1840), which is considered by some historians of science of his main work. Among other works of Agassiz - Research Methods in Natural History (Methods of Study in Natural History, 1863), Essays on the classification (Essay on Classification, 1859), published in England shortly after the publication of Darwin's Origin of Species. Agassiz was an implacable opponent of the theory of natural selection and evolution of species, defended the teaching of Cuvier that species diversity is the result of divine intervention, and shows the diversity of ideas and their associations in the divine mind. Agassiz died in Cambridge (pc. Massachusetts) 14 December 1873.