Museums and zoology
The son of naturalist Louis Agassiz, he moved to the United States as a boy and studied arts, engineering and natural history at Harvard. He helped develop the Museum of Comparative Zoology while researching classification, development and groups including sea urchins.
References: [1]
From Blake to the Pacific
He directed scientific work aboard Blake, dredging in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean and southeastern US waters, and later investigated the Pacific aboard Albatross and other vessels. Expeditions examined marine organisms alongside reefs, seafloor features and geographical conditions.
References: [1]
Mining income and research
His involvement in Michigan copper mining generated resources for the museum and expeditions. He brought younger researchers, including Henry Bigelow, on voyages, connecting collecting at sea with specimen research and oceanographic training.