Crocker, Templeton, 1884-1948

Chronologies

Biographical note

Charles Templeton Crocker was born September 2, 1884 in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Yale University in 1908. A self-proclaimed explorer, he sailed his yacht Zaca around the world covering 27,152 miles and visiting 50 ports (1930). He made an expedition to the Galapagos Islands and the South Pacific for the California Academy of Sciences (March 1932 – September 1932). A 2,690 foot mountain on Indefatigable Island was named Mount Crocker in honor of his conquest of that peak. Later expeditions included Honolulu, Hawaii with the Bishop Museum (1933), Easter Island for the American Museum of Natural History (1934), Gulf of California for the New York Zoological Society (1936), Hawaii, Tongareva and Samoa for American Museum of Natural History (1936-1937). Crocker received the Ribbon of the Legion of Honor (France, 1926) for his opera “Fey-Yen-Fah”, an adaptation of a play he had written, “Land of Happiness”. He also authored "The Cruise of the Zaca" in 1933.

Crocker's memberships include the California Historical Society (president, 1922) to whom he deeded his library in 1940. Many specimens from his expeditions were donated to the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences. He was a Life Member of the California Academy of Sciences (1911), Patron (1931), Benefactor (1932), Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society; and a member of the American Museum of Natural History, New York Zoological Society, Field Museum, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Native Sons of the Golden West. He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, a member of the groups: Field Museum, Knickerbocker club of New York, St. James Royal Automobile club, Sons of the American Revolution, Native Sons of the Golden West, The Society of the Mayflower Descendents and the Author’s Club of London.