Robert Almer Harper

American biologist
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Quick Facts
Born:
Jan. 21, 1862, Le Claire, Iowa, U.S.
Died:
May 12, 1946, Bedford, Va. (aged 84)

Robert Almer Harper (born Jan. 21, 1862, Le Claire, Iowa, U.S.—died May 12, 1946, Bedford, Va.) was an American biologist who identified the details of reproduction in the development of the fungus ascospore (sexually produced spores of fungi in the class Ascomycetes). After graduating from Oberlin (Ohio) College (M.A., 1891), Harper did graduate study at the University of Bonn while on leave of absence from Lake Forest (Ill.) College, where he was professor of botany and geology (1891–98). In 1896 he received his Ph.D., after which he taught at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1898–1911), and at Columbia University (1911–30). ...(100 of 140 words)