Rachel Carson

27 May 1907 – 14 April 1964

Rachel Carson was an American marine biologist and writer whose books brought ecology to a wide public. Her sea trilogy, including the best-selling The Sea Around Us, established her as a science writer, and her 1962 book Silent Spring documented the effects of synthetic pesticides. Silent Spring is credited with prompting changes in United States pesticide policy and with helping to launch the modern environmental movement.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Rachel Carson.

Life events

Born in Springdale, Pennsylvania
27 May 1907

Born on a family farm along the Allegheny River near Pittsburgh.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Graduated from the Pennsylvania College for Women
1929

Switched from English to biology as her major and graduated magna cum laude from the institution now known as Chatham University.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Earned a master's degree in zoology at Johns Hopkins University
1932

Completed a thesis on the development of the pronephros in catfish.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Joined the United States Bureau of Fisheries
1936

Hired as a junior aquatic biologist, writing radio scripts and public information material; she later became editor-in-chief of publications for the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Under the Sea Wind
1941

Her first book, a narrative account of ocean life, appeared shortly before the United States entered the Second World War.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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The Sea Around Us won the National Book Award
1951

The book became a long-running best-seller and allowed her to leave government service and write full time.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published The Edge of the Sea
1955

Completed her trilogy of books about the ocean with a study of Atlantic shoreline ecology.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Published Silent Spring
27 September 1962

Her account of the ecological effects of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, was serialised in The New Yorker before book publication and drew sustained criticism from the chemical industry.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Testified before United States Senate subcommittees on pesticides
1963

Appeared before Congress to call for new policies protecting human health and the environment.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Silver Spring, Maryland
14 April 1964

Died of complications of breast cancer at the age of 56.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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