lounsbury spent his childhood in boston and later studied at the massachusetts agricultural college, where after graduation he stayed on as instructor. in 1893 the department of agriculture for the cape colony grew concerned about the incidence of phylloxera in the vineyards, and asked for recommendations from l. o. howard, head of the division of entomology of the u.s. department of agriculture, who suggested lounsbury. when the post was offered to lounsbury in 1895 at an annual salary of ₤600, he accepted, married rose linda davis (6 september 1872 - july 1920) who was an assistant in albany to the new york state entomologist, and set off for cape town shortly before his 23rd birthday.