Yates, Lorenzo G. (Lorenzo Gordin), 1837-1909

Biography

Lorenzo Gordin Yates was born in England in 1837 and came to the United States when he was fourteen years old. He studied medicine and dentistry in the east and moved to Centerville, California, about 1864 where he continued his career as a dentist. He moved to Santa Barbara in 1882 and died there in 1909.

Interest from early childhood in collecting shells and fossils resulted in a lifelong study of numerous aspects of natural history. He became an expert on conchology, minerology, paleontology, North American Indians, flora, fauna, etc., and wrote and lectured extensively about these and related subjects, including the islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. In addition, he compiled valuable collections of ferns, shells, fossils, minerals, prehistoric relics, Indian artifacts, etc.

Yates was president of the Santa Barbara Society of Natural History, secretary of the Board of Horticultural Commissioners of Santa Barbara County, and president of the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Agassiz Association. He was a fellow of the Linnaean Society of London, an associate member of the Victoria Institute of London, and an honorary member of many other scientific organizations.

From the guide to the Lorenzo Gordin Yates Papers, 1852-1906, (The Bancroft Library)