Biographical Timeline of John Muir's Life

For more details, see Chronology of the Life and Legacy of John Muir

1838 Born April 21 in Dunbar, Scotland.

1849 Emigrates to Wisconsin.

1860 Exhibits inventions at Wisconsin State Agriculture Fair.

1861 Enters the University of Wisconsin.

1863 Leaves University of Wisconsin.

1867 Temporarily blinded by eye injury. Once his sight is restored, decides to commit his life to nature study. Sets out on a 1,000-mile walk from Kentucky to the Gulf of Mexico.

1868 Travels to California. Visits Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, ³the most divinely beautiful of all the moun-tain chains I have ever seen.²

1871 Undertakes intensive study of glaciation in the Sierra. Ralph Waldo Emerson visits him in Yosemite.

1874 Begins series of articles entitled ³Studies in the Sierra,² which launch his successful writing career.

1879 First of many visits to Alaska.

1880 Marries Louie Wanda Strentzel, April 14; moves to Martinez, California, to help manage family orchard business.

1890 Succeeds in campaign to create Yosemite National Park.

1892 Helps found Sierra Club to ³do something for wilderness and make the mountains glad.² President until his death in 1914.

1903 Tours Yosemite with President Roosevelt.

1904 Completes trip around the world.

1911 Travels to South America and Africa.

1913 Loses campaign to save Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite.

1914 Dies December 24, in Los Angeles.

Source: Sierra Club

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