Glover Morrill Allen

Glover Morrill Allen, born on February eighth, eighteen seventy-nine, in Walpole, New Hampshire, was a distinguished American zoologist and ornithologist. He was the son of Reverend Nathaniel Glover Allen and Harriet Ann (Schouler) Allen. His academic journey began at Harvard University, where he made significant contributions even as a student, publishing notable works such as The Birds of Massachusetts and A List of the Birds of New Hampshire.

After graduating in nineteen oh one, Allen took on the role of librarian at the Boston Society of Natural History. His academic prowess was further recognized when he earned a Ph.D. from Harvard in nineteen oh four. By nineteen twenty-four, he was not only lecturing in zoology at Harvard but also serving as the Curator of Mammals at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, solidifying his reputation in the field.

Allen's passion for zoology took him on extensive travels across the globe, including Central and South America, East and West Africa, and Australia. He was a member of the Harvard Medical African Expedition from nineteen twenty-six to nineteen twenty-seven and participated in the Harvard Australian Expedition from nineteen thirty-one to nineteen thirty-two alongside his student, Ralph Nicholson Ellis.

His scholarly contributions include influential publications such as Bats: Biology, Behavior and Folklore, which was considered a leading introduction to chiroptera at the time, as well as the Checklist of African Mammals and Mammals of China and Mongolia. In recognition of his work, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in nineteen fifteen and served as president of the American Society of Mammalogists from nineteen twenty-seven to nineteen twenty-nine.

Allen's legacy continues through the scientific names of two lizard species, Adolfus alleni and Bachia alleni, commemorating his impact on the field of zoology.