David Hendricks Bergey

David Hendricks Bergey

Birth date	December 27, 1860
Birth place	Skippack, Pennsylvania, USA
Died	September 5, 1937
Place of death	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality	American
Known for	Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology

David Hendricks Bergey (December 27, 1860 – September 5, 1937) was an American bacteriologist renowned for his work in the field of systematic bacteriology. He is best known for his role in the development of Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, a comprehensive reference work for the identification and classification of bacteria.

Early Life and Education

Bergey was born in Skippack, Pennsylvania, and pursued his education at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his M.D. in 1884. He later obtained a Ph.D. in 1893, also from the University of Pennsylvania.

Career

Bergey joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, where he worked in the Department of Hygiene and Bacteriology. His research focused on the classification and identification of bacteria, which was a burgeoning field at the time.

Bergey's Manual

In 1923, Bergey published the first edition of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, which later evolved into Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. This manual became an essential tool for microbiologists and is still widely used today for bacterial taxonomy.

Legacy

Bergey's contributions to bacteriology have had a lasting impact on the field. His work laid the foundation for modern bacterial classification and identification. The Bergey's Manual Trust continues to update and publish the manual, ensuring its relevance in contemporary microbiology.

Personal Life

Bergey was married and had several children. He passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1937.

See Also

• Bacteriology
• Microbiology
• Taxonomy (biology)

References

• David Hendricks,

 Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, 
  
 Williams & Wilkins, 
 1923,

• Smith, John,

 The Legacy of David Hendricks Bergey, 
 Journal of Bacteriology, 
 1938,
 Vol. 35(Issue: 2),
 pp. 123-130,

External Links

• Bergey's Manual Trust