GROSVENOR, GILBERT HOVEY ), Amer ican editor, geographer, and writer, was born in Constantinople, Turkey, Oct. 28, 1875. He was graduated from Amherst college, A.B. magna cum laude, 1897 ; A.M., 1901. Honorary degrees: LL.D., Georgetown university, 1921 ; Litt.D., Amherst, 1926; LL.D., William and Mary college, 193o; Sc.D., South Dakota School of Mines, Since 1899, Dr. Grosvenor has directed the world-wide educa tional, scientific, and research work of the National Geographic Society, of which he is president, and its beautifully illustrated National Geographic Magazine, of which he is the editor. Under his leadership the society has grown from a local membership of 90o to a world enrolment of more than I,Ioo,000.
Under Dr. Grosvenor's administration the National Geographic Society has sent out numerous expeditions which have carried the society's flag to both the North and South Poles, to the loftiest ascent yet made into the stratosphere (72,395ft.), to the greatest ocean depth yet reached (3,o 2 8f t.) , and other expeditions have studied the stars, the seas, deserts, jungles, microscopic marvels, and uncovered rich lost chapters of mankind's progress.
In addition to his numerous articles in the National Geographic Magazine, Dr. Grosvenor wrote "Explorations of the Nineteenth Century" for the annual report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1900, the historical summary of polar exploration for Peary's The North Pole, and edited Scenes From Every Land, Flags of the World and The Book of Birds, the first comprehensive work con taining illustrations in colour of all the major species of American birds north of Mexico, and many other volumes published by the National Geographic Society for its membership.
Actively interested in the conservation and protection of wild life, Gilbert Grosvenor has encouraged the nesting of birds at his home, "Wild Acres," at Bethesda, Maryland. His estate holds the Audubon Society and U.S. Biological Survey record for the largest number of land birds nesting in one acre adjacent to a house in the United States. Named for Gilbert Grosvenor are Lake Gros venor, on the Alaska peninsula; Mount Grosvenor, Szechwan Province, China; Grosvenor glacier, in Peru; and Gilbert Gros venor trail and mountain range in Antarctica. Gilbert Grosvenor married Oct. 23, 1900, Elsie May Bell, daughter of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone.