Joseph Beal Steere was an American ornithologist. Steere was born in Rollin, Michigan. He received a B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1868 and a B. of Law in 1870. From 1870-1873 he traveled in South America, China and Taiwan. He went on another scientific expedition to the Philippines and the Moluccas from 1874-1875. He returned to Michigan to teach zoology and was a professor of Zoology there from 1876 until 1893, when he was forced to resign by the university regents.
He took one final excursion in 1901, leading a group of students to the Amazon to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. Steere described a number of new birds. He is commemorated in the names of a number of birds, including Steere's Liocichla Liochicla steerii, Wattled Broadbill Eurylaimus steerii, Black-hooded Coucal Centropus steerii and Azure-breasted Pitta Pitta steerii.
(Wikipedia: Steere)
