Frederick W. (Frederick William) True

Born in 1858, Frederick William True was an American zoologist best known for his work on whales and dolphins. He was closely associated with the Smithsonian Institution, where he served in the United States National Museum and became one of the most respected American specialists in mammalogy and marine life.

Over the course of his career, True published extensively on cetaceans and other mammals, describing species, organizing museum collections, and contributing to the scientific study of North American wildlife. He was also involved in broader zoological work at the museum, helping build knowledge through research, cataloging, and public scholarship.

True died in 1914, but his name remains especially familiar in marine science through True's beaked whale, a species named in his honor. He is remembered as a careful, productive scientist whose work helped lay the groundwork for later studies of marine mammals.