Joseph Le Conte (February 26, 1823 - July 6, 1901) was born in Liberty County, Georgia. He received an M.D. degree from the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1845. After four years of practicing medicine, he entered Harvard University and studied natural history under Louis Agassiz. After graduating from Harvard, he taught at Oglethorpe University, Franklin College and South Carolina College. In 1869, Le Conte moved to the University of California, Berkeley, where he remained the rest of his life, teaching mainly in geology. In 1870 he visited Yosemite Valley and became friends with John Muir. Concerned about resource exploitation, Le Conte and Muir with others founded the Sierra Club in 1892. Le Conte died while visiting Yosemite Valley. Le Conte and his wife Caroline Nisbet, had four children.