author
Nathaniel Hillyer Egleston
1822–1912
A minister, teacher, and early conservation advocate, he helped bring public attention to American forests long before conservation became mainstream. His writing and public service linked faith, education, and a growing concern for the country’s natural resources.
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About the author
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1822, Nathaniel Hillyer Egleston studied at Yale College and Yale Divinity School before building a career as a Congregational minister and educator. He later became known not only for his church work but also for his energetic writing on public life, history, and the American landscape.
Egleston is especially remembered as an early voice for forestry in the United States. He served as the second chief of the federal Division of Forestry from 1883 to 1886, during a formative period for what would eventually become the U.S. Forest Service. He also helped organize the American Forestry Association and wrote widely in support of tree planting and forest preservation.
Alongside his conservation work, he published books and essays on religion, history, and civic life. He died in 1912, leaving behind the record of a varied career that moved from the pulpit and classroom into the early national conversation about caring for America’s forests.