Who was Alexander Agassiz, the son of Louis Agassiz?

Alexander Agassiz (1835–1910) was a prominent marine zoologist, oceanographer, and mining engineer who was the son of the Swiss-born naturalist Louis Agassiz.1

After joining his father in the United States in 1849, he studied engineering and zoology at Harvard University. His scientific career included significant work on echinoderms and extensive marine expeditions, during which he famously discovered a coral reef at an elevation that challenged Charles Darwin’s theories on reef formation.1

Beyond his biological research, Alexander Agassiz achieved notable success as a mining executive. He served as the superintendent and later president of a copper mine in Calumet, Michigan, where he implemented modern safety and welfare standards for workers and transformed the operation into the world’s leading copper mine. He was also a generous benefactor to the Harvard Museum, serving as its curator from 1874 to 1885, and supported various biology research initiatives.1