Marjory Stoneman Douglas (April 7, 1890 – May 14, 1998) was an American journalist, writer,
feminist, and environmentalist known for her staunch defense of the
Everglades against efforts to drain it and reclaim land for development. Moving to Miami as a young woman to work for
The Miami Herald, Douglas became a
freelance writer, producing over a hundred
short stories that were published in popular magazines. Her most influential work was the book
The Everglades: River of Grass (1947), which redefined the popular conception of the Everglades as a treasured river instead of a worthless swamp; its impact has been compared to that of
Rachel Carson's influential book
Silent Spring (1962). Her books, stories, and journalism career brought her influence in Miami, which she used to advance her causes.