Bernhard Fernow
Bernhard Eduard Fernow was the third chief of the USDAs Division of Forestry of the United States from 1886 to 1898, preceding Gifford Pinchot in that position, and laying much of the groundwork for the establishment of the United States Forest Service in 1905. Fernows philosophy toward forest management may be traced to Heinrich Cottas preface to Anweisung zum Waldbau or Linnaeus ideas on the economy of nature. Fernow has been called the father of professional forestry in the United States.
Fernow was born in Hohensalza in the Prussian Province of Posen. He spent time with his uncle, who managed the estate of his extended family. After finishing his secondary studies, Fernow spent a year in the Prussian forest service. He then studied at the University of Knigsberg and the Royal Prussian Academy of Forestry at Mnden, his studies being interrupted for military service in the FrancoPrussian War. Before graduating from college, he met Olivia Reynolds, an American woman accompanying her brother during his studies in Germany. They got engaged, and he followed her to the United States. Married in 1879, the couple had five children. Olivia actively helped him in the many aspects of his work.
Source: Wikipedia