Mr. Jefferson and the Giant Moose

Lee Alan Dugatkin talked about his book Mr. Jefferson and the Giant Moose: Natural History in Early America (University Of Chicago Press; November 15, 2009). In this book about the origin and evolution of an international dispute about natural history in America he reveals that America was viewed by many Europeans as a degenerate backwater, populated by weak and feeble subspecies of flora and fauna (humans included) inferior to European specimens. Thomas Jefferson worked for years to systematically refute the claims of world-renowned French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon without quelling the arrogance of the French court. Mr. Dugatkin tells the story of Mr. Jefferson’s attempt to win the argument by shipping a seven-foot moose from New Hampshire to Paris. Professor Dugatkin used slides as he presented this history. He responded to questions from members of the audience.

This was a Special Evening Lecture at Faunces Tavern Museum, held December 3, 2009, in the Nichols Dining Room. close