George Marsh

Biography

George Marsh was an American scholar, diplomat, and pioneering conservationist whose work laid important groundwork for environmental thought in the United States. Serving as a U.S. Representative from Vermont and later as Minister to Italy and Turkey, Marsh combined his political career with extensive scholarly pursuits. His seminal work 'Man and Nature' (1864) examined humanity's impact on the natural environment and is considered one of the foundational texts of American conservation philosophy, influencing generations of naturalists and environmental advocates.