Thomas G. Gentry

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Thomas George Gentry
BornFebruary 28, 1843
Holmesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died1905
Occupation(s)Ornithologist, writer

Thomas George Gentry (February 28, 1843 – 1905) was an American educator, ornithologist, naturalist and animal rights writer. Gentry authored an early work applying the term intelligence to plants.

Biography

Gentry was born in Holmesburg area of Philadelphia.[1] In 1861, he entered the profession of teaching in Philadelphia. He was elected principal of Southwest Boys' Grammar School in 1884. He married Mary Shoemaker on December 27, 1864. He received the Sc.D. from Chicago College of Science in 1888.[1]

Gentry resided in

The Auk.[2] Gentry expressed interest in Walt Whitman's poetry and exchanged letters with him.[2]

Works

Life-Histories of the Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania

Gentry authored the two-volume Life-Histories of the Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania. The work was based on his personal observations of birds in the

Quarterly Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club praised the careful studies of Gentry but commented that "the chief defect of the book is its unprepossessing typographical appearance, printer's blunders of every description abounding, while the paper and type are wholly unworthy of so valuable a work."[3]

It was positively reviewed in the

Canadian Entomologist who "heartily commend[ed] it to all our readers who are in any way interested in ornithology."[5]
The Field and Forest journal liked the first volume and described Gentry as a "true lover of nature, as well as a minute observer."
Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club which concluded that "Mr. Gentry is evidently a friend and admirer of the feathered tribes, and often describes their habits most minutely, especially in relation to their nidification. Despite some faults of execution, the work before us contributes much of value respecting the habits of our birds, and records many interesting points in their history not given by previous writers."[7]

In 1912, many years after Gentry's volumes were published, a hostile review in

The Auk accused Gentry of fabricating his records of bird food.[8] Gentry stated in his preface to his first volume that he had examined the stomachs of 700 birds to identify their food habits. The reviewer took issue with this and noted that Gentry had listed from 20–50 animal or vegetable items of food for many different bird species but such a great variety of items is suspect and that an obtrusive feature of Gentry's data is the recurrence of the same insect names over and over again. The reviewer concluded that the book is a "dangerous mixture of fact and unfact" and Gentry's records of bird food are "almost entirely products of the author's imagination."[8]

Nests and Eggs of Birds of the United States

Gentry authored Nests and Eggs of Birds of the United States, in 1882. The book deals exclusively with American oology. It was positively reviewed in The American Naturalist who concluded "we take this opportunity to recommend this elegant work for every library."[9] Conversely, Clinton Hart Merriam negatively reviewed it as a "popular picture book, well adapted for the amusement of children".[10]

The book featured beautiful artwork such as 50 paintings of North American birds, eggs and nests by Edwin Sheppard. It is now a collector's item and worth over $1,350.[11]

Intelligence in Plants and Animals

Gentry authored Life and Immortality: Or, Souls in Plants and Animals, in 1897 which argued for animal and plant consciousness.[12] Several years later it was republished as Intelligence in Plants and Animals by Doubleday.[2][13] Gentry believed that all animals and plants have a soul and will survive death.[14] Historian Ed Folsom described it as "an exhaustive investigation of how such animals as bees, ants, worms and buzzards, as well as all kinds of plants, display intelligence and thus have souls".[2] The book argued that even the "lower animals" will have "a future life, where they will receive a just compensation for the sufferings which so many of them undergo in this world."[2] Gentry believed that the doctrine of immortality for animals would lead to a more humane treatment.[15]

A review in

The Journal of Practical Metaphysics as a "particular value to all who are interested in the signs of intelligence in the animal and vegetable kingdoms."[12]

Selected publications

References

  1. ^ a b The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Volume 4. Boston: The Biographical Society, 1904.
  2. ^
    doi:10.13008/2153-3695.1003
    .
  3. ^
    Quarterly Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club
    . 1: 49–50.
  4. ^
    The American Journal of Science and Arts
    . 114: 426. 1877.
  5. Canadian Entomologist
    . 9: 37–38. 1877.
  6. ^ "Life Histories of the Birds of Eastern Pennsylvania". Field and Forest. 2 (6): 106. 1876.
  7. Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club
    . 3 (1): 36–37.
  8. ^
    The Auk
    . 29 (1): 119–121. 1912.
  9. JSTOR 2449244
    .
  10. Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological Club
    . 7 (4): 246–249.
  11. ISBN 978-0-292-71451-9
  12. ^
    The Journal of Practical Metaphysics
    . 2: 64. 1897.
  13. ^ "Intelligence in Plants and Animals". The Churchman. 82 (5): 5. 1900.
  14. ^ "Intelligence in Plants and Animals". Current Literature. 28: 351. 1900.
  15. The American Journal of Psychology
    . 9: 133. 1897.
  16. ^ "Intelligence in Plants and Animals". The Nation. 72 (1869): 344. 1901.
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