Valerie_Harrisse_Walter's_sculpture_John_Daniel_II_Archives_of_American_Art

John Daniel II (–1926), originally called Sultan, was a

Western gorilla The western gorilla (''Gorilla gorilla'') is a great ape found in Africa, one of two species of the hominid genus ''Gorilla''. Large and robust with males weighing around , the hair is significantly lighter in color than the eastern gorilla, ''G ...

who was captured at age three in August 1923 in the

French Congo The French Congo (french: Congo français) or Middle Congo (french: Moyen-Congo) was a French colony which at one time comprised the present-day area of the Republic of the Congo and parts of Gabon, and the Central African Republic. In 1910, i ...

. John Daniel II then passed into the possession of an Englishwoman named Alyce Cunningham to be a successor to John Daniel I. According to a 1924 press release, John Daniel II was from the same "gorilla village" as John Daniel I. John Daniel II reportedly did not like men as a consequence of their involvement in his capture and as such needed a female chaperone at all times. He liked bacon and eggs for breakfast, and took tea at 4 p.m. John Daniel and Cunningham came to the United States from the UK in early 1924 on the . John Daniel II lived with Cunningham at the

McAlpin Hotel Herald Towers, formerly the Hotel McAlpin, is a residential condominium building on Herald Square, along Broadway between 33rd and 34th Streets, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. Constructed from 1910 to 1912 by the Gre ...

in New York and "even answered the door when visitors called." They toured together that summer with the

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (also known as the Ringling Bros. Circus, Ringling Bros., the Barnum & Bailey Circus, Barnum & Bailey, or simply Ringling) is an American traveling circus company billed as The Greatest Show on Ear ...

. Per a poster held in the Ringling Museum circusiana collection he was advertised as a "Genuine Gorilla from the Wilds of Africa." Valerie Harrisse Walter sketched John Daniel II in his hotel room in 1924. Walter later sculpted him in bronze. American journalist Mildred Seydell often performed

palm readings Palm most commonly refers to: * Palm of the hand, the central region of the front of the hand * Palm plants, of family Arecaceae **List of Arecaceae genera * Several Arecaceae#Other plants, other plants known as "palm" Palm or Palms may also refer ...

as a gimmick to gain access to interesting interview candidates; John Daniel II was one such subject. One newspaper report claimed that John Daniel II, "the great chimpanzee, could smoke a pipe, ride a tricycle, chew tobacco, and tie his necktie." In the winter of 1924, John Daniel II and Cunningham returned to the UK. Press reports had it that John Daniel II was to be married in London to

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...

, a " spinster" gorilla in the possession of Professor T. Alexander Barnes. Circa 1925, John Daniel II weighed about . John Daniel II was exhibited at the

London Zoo London Zoo, also known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for science, scientific study. In 1831 o ...

in 1925 and/or 1926, traveling to the zoo from his hotel by motorcar or taxi, arriving for his shift around 11 a.m. and leaving around 6 p.m. Daniel II died in London in approximately May 1926. The cause of death was "some internal trouble such as humans suffer from." With the passing of the cosmopolitan John Daniel II, American newspapers reported that the only gorilla remaining in U.S. captivity was

Congo Congo or The Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa: * Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country to the southeast, capital Kinshasa, formerly known as Zaire, sometimes referred to a ...

, a female

eastern gorilla The eastern gorilla (''Gorilla beringei'') is a critically endangered species of the genus ''Gorilla'' and the largest living primate. At present, the species is subdivided into two subspecies. There are 3,800 eastern lowland gorillas or Graue ...

who was eventually passed into the custody of

Robert M. Yerkes Robert Mearns Yerkes (; May 26, 1876 – February 3, 1956) was an American psychologist, ethologist, eugenicist and primatologist best known for his work in intelligence testing and in the field of comparative psychology. Yerkes was a pioneer i ...

References

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External links

Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows: John Daniel the 2d. Broadside used for performances in Springfield
Individual gorillas Circus apes London Zoo Gorillas in art 1920 animal births 1926 animal deaths