Edward Drinker Cope

Edward Drinker Cope (July 28, 1840 – April 12, 1897) was an American zoologist, paleontologist, comparative anatomist, herpetologist, and ichthyologist. Born into a wealthy Quaker family, he showed great interest in science from a young age and published his first scientific paper at just 19. Though his father wanted him to become a gentleman farmer, Cope followed his passion for science.

Cope had little formal training but preferred working in the field over teaching. He often traveled to the American West in the 1870s and 1880s, sometimes joining U.S. Geological Survey teams. During this time, he had a strong rivalry with another scientist named Othniel Charles Marsh, which led to a fierce competition to find fossils known as the Bone Wars. Unfortunately, Cope faced money troubles after some mining projects failed, and he had to sell many of his fossils.

Despite these challenges, Cope's work greatly shaped the study of ancient life in America. He wrote over 1,400 papers and discovered, described, and named more than 1,000 vertebrate species, including many fishes and dozens of dinosaurs. His career saw a revival near the end of his life before he passed away in 1897.

Biography

Edward Drinker Cope was born on July 28, 1840, the eldest son of Alfred and Hanna Cope. His mother passed away when he was very young, and he did not remember her. His stepmother, Rebecca Biddle, took care of him and he got along well with her and his stepbrother, James Biddle Cope. Alfred, a member of the Quakers, had a successful shipping business and was kind with his money.

Edward grew up in a big stone house called "Fairfield" in Philadelphia, surrounded by gardens he loved to explore. His family taught him to read and write early and took him on trips to places like New England, museums, zoos, and gardens. From a young age, Edward was very interested in animals and also had a natural talent for drawing.

Alfred wanted Edward to become a farmer, so he sent him to school in Philadelphia and later to a boarding school in Westtown, Pennsylvania. Edward enjoyed his studies but often felt lonely away from home. He was interested in biology and spent time at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, where he began his scientific work. Despite his father's wishes, Edward pursued his passion for science, studying at the University of Pennsylvania and working with famous scientists like Joseph Leidy and Spencer Baird.

In 1864, Edward traveled through Europe, meeting many important scientists. He returned to the United States and married Annie Pim in 1865. They had one daughter, Julia. Edward continued his scientific work, traveling across the country to find fossils and making many important discoveries. His career peaked in the 1870s when he published many papers and described new species.

Edward faced challenges in later years, including financial difficulties and rivalry with another scientist, Othniel Charles Marsh. Despite these obstacles, he kept publishing important scientific work until his health declined. He passed away on April 12, 1897, just before his 57th birthday.

Personality

Edward Drinker Cope was a man full of energy and always interesting to talk to. Friends said he was kind and ready to help. Even though he could be stubborn and had a quick temper, people liked him.

Cope grew up in a religious family who believed the Bible was true word for word. As he studied science, he may have wondered about these beliefs, but he never talked about it much with his family.

Views

Edward Drinker Cope was very interested in how animals change over time. He read Charles Darwin’s book about nature’s travels, but he thought Darwin talked about rocks too much. Cope believed that animals change mainly by using their bodies more. For example, he thought giraffes got longer necks by stretching to reach higher leaves and then passed this change to their babies.

Cope also believed that a special force inside all living things helped them become better and smarter. He thought this force came from a bigger mind of the universe. He also talked about people in a way that wasn’t fair, saying some groups were better than others, which we now know is wrong. He did not support equal rights for women and had old-fashioned ideas about their roles.

Legacy

Edward Drinker Cope wrote more than 1,400 scientific papers during his career. He discovered many new species of dinosaurs and other animals. Some animals were later named after him, like a type of salamander and several kinds of lizards and snakes.

Cope’s home in Pine Street is recognized as an important historical site. Some of his remains, such as his skull, are kept in scientific collections for study. His brain was donated for research and is still preserved today. Over the years, his skull has been used in books and photographs by scientists exploring dinosaur discoveries.

Selected works

Edward Drinker Cope wrote many important scientific papers and books. Some of his well-known works include On the Origin of Genera, which discussed how new groups of animals begin, and The Vertebrata of the Tertiary Formations of the West, which looked at ancient animals from North America. He also wrote essays about evolution and a book about crocodiles, lizards, and snakes in North America.

His work helped scientists understand more about animals and how they change over time.