248 Scientific Intelligence. 



Obituary. 



Joseph LeConte, Professor of Geology and Natural History 

 in the University of California, died on the sixth day of July in 

 the 88th year of his age. His death occurred in the Yosemite 

 Valley, California. 



Professor LeConte was a noble example of the type of man, 

 now rare, whose distinction and influence are due to breadth of 

 knowledge in all fields of science and clearness of perception and 

 exposition rather than to that exclusive mastery of the minute 

 details of some one branch of science so essential to the expert 

 specialist. 



His originality of thought and powers of research are well 

 expressed in the series of papers finally published in 1880 under 

 the title "Light, an exposition of monocular and binocular 

 vision." In this work the dominant characteristics of his mind 

 are exhibited in the combination of a deep and thorough compre- 

 hension of the laws of the visible and measurable phenomena of 

 optics, with a keen appreciation of the subtle and invisible work- 

 ings of the sensitive eye and perceiving mind by which physical 

 vibrations of light are transmuted into conscious sight. Psy- 

 chology, in his thought, was intimately associated with physiol- 

 ogy and physics. 



His "Elements of Geology " (1st edition, 1878) has been used 

 by a generation of students and is distinguished for the clearness 

 of its exposition of the principal facts and laws of the science of 

 geology. The philosophical problem connected with the adapta- 

 tion of evolution to social life, education and religion deeply 

 interested him : and his books " Religion and Science " (18*73) and 

 " Evolution and its relations to religious thought " (1887) opened 

 the truths of modern science to many minds that would have 

 lOng remained in ignorance except for the keen human sympathy 

 and teaching capacity which were prominent traits of his char- 

 acter. He was a man of charming personality, beloved as well 

 as admired by all who met him. 



Of Huguenot ancestry, he was born in Georgia, Feb. 26, 1823. 

 He was educated as a physician, though the greater part of his 

 life was spent as a teacher. He studied with Agassiz at Harvard, 

 taking the degree of B.S. in geology and zoology in 1851. He 

 held several professorships in Georgia and South Carolina col- 

 leges before the year 1869, when he was appointed Frofessor of 

 Geology and Natural History in the new University of California, 

 the position he occupied to the end of his life. 



He published numerous papers and books on scientific, philo- 

 sophical and educational subjects. The degree of LL.D. was 

 conferred by the University of Georgia in 1879. He was a 

 member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American 

 Philosophical Society, the American Academy, the New York 

 Academy, the Geological Society of America, the American 

 Association and other scientific societies. He was acting president 

 of the International Congress of Geologists at its meeting in 

 Washington in 1891. w. 





