Richard Alden Howard (July 1, 1917 – September 18, 2003) was an American

botanist Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxonomy, taxonomy, and Plant ecology, ecology. A botanist or plant scientist is a scientist who s ...

and plant taxonomist. Howard, who served as director of

Arnold Arboretum The Arnold Arboretum is a botanical research institution and free public park affiliated with Harvard University and located in the Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, Massachusetts, Roslindale neighborhoods of Boston. Established in 1872, it is the ...

between 1954 and 1977, was known for his work in tropical biology and as author of the 6-volume ''Flora of the Lesser Antilles'' (1974–1989).

Early life and education

Howard was the elder of two sons born in

Stamford, Connecticut Stamford () is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, outside of New York City. It is the sixth-most populous city in New England. Stamford is also the largest city in the Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, Weste ...

, to Charles F. and Augusta Grace Barker Howard and was raised in

Warren, Ohio Warren is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 39,201 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Mahoning River, Warren lies approximately northwest of Youngstown, Ohio, Y ...

. He received an A.B. from

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public university, public research university in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest List of colleges and universities in Ohio, university in Ohi ...

in 1938 and took up a position as a technician with Irving W. Bailey at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

. Howard worked on the

Icacinaceae The Icacinaceae, also called the white pear family, are a family (biology), family of flowering plants,"Icacinaceae" At: Angiosperm Phylogeny Website At: Missouri Botanical Garden Website (see ''External links'' below). consisting of trees, shrub ...

plant family and in 1939 he received a fellowship which supported his graduate study. He continued to work on the Icacinaceae, receiving his doctorate in 1942. His doctoral thesis was entitled ''Studies of the Icacinaceae: A monograph of the New World species''.

World War II

After graduation, Howard attempted to enlist in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, but was rejected because he exceeded their maximum height requirement. He was accepted into the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

as an Aviation Physiologist. In this capacity he organized and ran the Jungle Survival Program of the School of Applied Tactics at

Orlando, Florida Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...

, a program which later developed into the Air-Sea Rescue Service. He wrote survival manuals and left the service with the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

. Howard was awarded the

Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...

in 1947 for his work in this program.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Richard A. American botanists Miami University alumni 1917 births 2003 deaths United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces personnel of World War II Recipients of the Legion of Merit Harvard University alumni