John Burroughs

John Burroughs (1837–1921) was an American naturalist and essayist celebrated for shaping modern nature writing. Born in rural New York, he became closely associated with the Hudson River Valley, where careful observation of birds, plants, and seasonal change informed his work. His first major book, *Wake-Robin* (1871), helped establish his reputation and was followed by many volumes of essays that blended science, literature, and personal experience. Burroughs also supported the emerging American conservation movement and wrote in defense of protecting wild places. He spent his later years at “Slabsides,” his rustic retreat near West Park, New York.