Joseph Leidy

Biography

Joseph Leidy balanced the healing art of a physician with an insatiable curiosity for the natural world, bringing rigorous observation and anatomical knowledge to bear on the study of American fauna and fossils. His teaching and museum work helped shape a generation of scientists and ensured that anatomy and paleontology were taught with the same exacting standards he applied to his clinical work.

Leidy’s legacy endures in the collections and scholarship that continue to inspire biologists and medical students alike, and his memory is cherished by those who recall his kindness and steadfast pursuit of scientific truth at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.