Bradford Torrey

Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1843, Bradford Torrey was an American ornithologist, naturalist, and essayist. He was educated in the local public schools, taught for a time, later worked in business in Boston, and in 1886 became an assistant editor at The Youth's Companion.

Torrey is best remembered for clear, observant writing about birds and the natural world. His books include Birds in the Bush, A Rambler's Lease, The Foot-Path Way, Everyday Birds, and A World of Green Hills, and his essays often mix careful field observation with a warm, conversational style.

He died in 1912, just two days before his sixty-ninth birthday. Though not as famous now as some of his contemporaries, his work still appeals to readers who enjoy classic American nature writing that is curious, patient, and quietly witty.