ELLIOTT, HENRY WOOD (13 Nov.1846 - 25 May 1930) was an internationally known conservationist, naturalist, artist and scientist. He authored the first international wildlife conservation treaty, the Hay-Elliott Fur Seal Treaty of 1911.
Born in Cleveland to Franklin and Sophia (Hopkins) E., Elliott attended West High School, yet was self-taught in art and science. From 1862-1878 he worked for the Smithsonian Institution, studying and sketching natural history. In 1864 he travelled to British Columbia in his first field expedition. From 1869-1871 Elliott worked on the U.S. Geological Survey out West.
In 1872 Elliott visited Alaska to investigate seal conditions on the Pribilof Islands, Bering Sea, following reports of depredations by open sea sealers. Elliott returned in 1874 and 1890. His sketches of St. Paul's Island provided persuasive evidence of the need to stop the seal slaughter.
When not in Alaska Elliott lived in Cleveland, tending to local business matters and his vineyards. He kept up with reports on Alaska and contributed many articles to leading magazines like Harper's and Scribner's.
A prolific artist, Elliott made between two and three hundred sketches of the Pribilofs between 1872-1874. Many of his finished watercolor sketches are in the Smithsonian and the CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.
Elliott married Aleksandra Melovidov on 10 July 1872. They had 10 children, Grace, Flora, Marsha, Frank, Ruth, Edith, Narene, Lionel, John and Louise. Elliott retired to Seattle, Washington. His ashes were scattered over Mt. Ranier.