Robert Marshall (1901–1939) was an American forester, writer and wilderness activist. He developed a love for the outdoors during his childhood and became one of the first Adirondack Forty-Sixers. He also traveled to the Alaskan wilderness and wrote numerous publications, including the 1933 bestselling book Arctic Village. A scientist with a Doctor of Philosophy in plant physiology, Marshall became independently wealthy after the death of his father. He held two significant public posts during his life: chief of forestry in the Bureau of Indian Affairs, from 1933 to 1937, and head of recreation management in the Forest Service, from 1937 to 1939. Defining wilderness as a social as well as an environmental ideal, Marshall was the first to suggest a formal, national organization dedicated to the preservation of primeval land. In 1935 he became one of the principal founders of The Wilderness Society. Marshall died of heart failure at the age of 38. Today, Marshall is considered largely responsible for the wilderness preservation movement. Several landmarks and areas, including The Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and Mount Marshall in the Adirondacks, were named in his honor.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marshall_%28wilderness_activist%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

366:

The Alamanni, an alliance of west Germanic tribes, crossed the frozen Rhine in large numbers to invade the Roman Empire. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamanni

533:

Mercurius became Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a regnal name upon elevation to the papacy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_II

1944:

World War II: The United States and Australia successfully landed 13,000 troops on Papua New Guinea in an attempt to cut off a Japanese retreat. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/landing_at_Saidor

1949:

Luis Muñoz Marín became the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Mu%C3%B1oz_Mar%C3%ADn

1991:

Sharon Pratt Dixon was sworn in as mayor of Washington, D.C., thus becoming the first African American woman to lead a major American city. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Pratt_Kelly

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

contumelious (adj): Rudely contemptuous; showing contumely; insolent or disdainful http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/contumelious

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, confirmed by independent observers. I'll believe anything, no matter how wild and ridiculous, if there is evidence for it. The wilder and more ridiculous something is, however, the firmer and more solid the evidence will have to be. --Isaac Asimov http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Isaac_Asimov