1920 – 1980

Robert Whittaker

American ecologist (1920–1980)

ecologistbotanistuniversity teacherclimatologist
Born
1920-12-27, Wichita
Died
1980-10-20
Birthplace state
Kansas

Biography

Robert Harding Whittaker was born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1920 and worked as a plant ecologist, botanist, and climatologist until his death in 1980. He proposed the five kingdom taxonomic classification in 1969, dividing organisms into Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera. He developed the Whittaker Biome Classification, which organized biome types according to temperature and precipitation, and introduced the concepts of Alpha diversity, Beta diversity, and Gamma diversity.

Occupation

Robert Whittaker is recorded as a ecologist, a botanist, a university teacher and a climatologist, born in Kansas (1920–1980).

Connections to Kansas

Robert Whittaker was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1920. Explore other notable figures from Kansas, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Kansas›Kansashistory ›Historic sites in Kansas›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Wichita

Robert Whittaker came from Wichita. A full Aubrey report on Wichita pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Wichita report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Kansas

Other historical figures born in Kansas, ranked by historical prominence.

Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
American aviation pioneer and author (1897–1939)
Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton
American actor, comedian, and director (1895–1966)
Dennis Hopper
Dennis Hopper
American actor and film director (1936–2010)
Kirstie Alley
Kirstie Alley
American actress (1951–2022)
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel
American actress (1893-1952)
Bob Dole
Bob Dole
American politician (1923–2021)
Charles Curtis
Charles Curtis
vice president of the United States from 1929 to 1933

Frequently asked about Robert Whittaker

Who was Robert Whittaker?
Robert Whittaker was American ecologist (1920–1980), born in Kansas (1920 – 1980).
When and where was Robert Whittaker born?
Robert Whittaker was born on 1920-12-27 in Wichita.
When did Robert Whittaker die?
Robert died on 1980-10-20.
What was Robert Whittaker known for?
Robert Whittaker is recorded as a ecologist, a botanist, a university teacher and a climatologist.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report