486 PEOCEEDINGS OF PHILADELPHIA MEETING. 



In the absence of the author, the following memorial was read ])y the 

 Secretary : 



MEMOIR OF ANTONIO DEL CASTILLO 

 BY EZEQUIEL ORDONEZ 



Seiior Antonio del Castillo was born in 1820, of Mexican parents, in a 

 little town called Pungarabato, state of Michoacan, in the Republic of 

 Mexico. He was baptized in the town of Cutzamala, in the state of Guer- 

 rero, and was the fourth son of General Antonio del Castillo, a man of 

 man}'- battles, who held one of the first positions in the Mexican army, 

 and was elected governor of the state of San Luis Potosi ; his entire 

 career was satisfactory to the Mexican people and he was worthy of men- 

 tion in the biography of his son. The mother. Madam Marcelina Patino, 

 was of good family and seems to have possessed not only much love for 

 her favorite son, but also much facult}'' of observation. She earl 3^ discov- 

 ered his fondness for certain studies and his appreciation of all things 

 pertaining to nature. The parents sent the young Antonio to a scliool 

 in Mexico kept by a Frenchman called Maty en de Fossey. He remained 

 in this school from 1832 to 1835, whence he passed to the College of 

 Mines. In this institution, supported and intended only for the sons of 

 the wealthy and others holding high positions in Mexico, he was sur- 

 rounded by })eople of wealth, birth and education. At the age of 26 years 

 he was elected as substitute in the chair of mineralogy in the Mining 

 College. One year later, when he graduated with high honor, the chair 

 was made his permanently. 



Some years afterward he married Miss Manuela Ocampo, the daughter 

 of a rich merchant of Guadalajara. Here commeuces the public life of 

 Senor Antonio del Castillo, who seems to have combined the love of 

 family with love of science. 



General Castillo in 1851 called his son to San Luis Potosi to take part 

 in political affairs, but the professor preferred to continue his studies in 

 geology. 



In 1856 he made a trip to the United States, called there by the gov- 

 ernment to testif}^ in court as to the ownership of certain mines in Al- 

 maden, California, claimed by two contesting parties. While there with 

 other Mexican commissioners he received many flattering proofs of esteem 

 and appreciation. 



In 1866 he conceived the idea of making a geological map of the Re- 

 public of Mexico, notwithstanding his many occupations. 



In 1867 the Mexican government appointed him Director of the Mint, 

 and later one of the Commissioners to form a code of mining laws. When 

 General Diaz became President, he appointed Seiior Castillo Director of 

 the School of Engineers. Having great affection for this school, he en- 



