Men who Aided in Developing the Science of Geology. 101 



BRIEF MENTION OF SOME OF THE 31 EN WHO AIDED 

 IN DEVELOPING THE SCIENCE OF GEOLOGY 

 IN AMEBIC A, BUT WHO ARE KNOWN NO 

 LONGER, EXCEPT BY THEIR WORKS. 



By S. A. Miller. 



I am conscious of the incompleteness of this biographical list of 

 names, but, in addition to accidental omissions, there are serious ob- 

 stacles in the way of making it complete, without extraordinary in- 

 vestigation, as some of the geologists have not received obituary no- 

 tices in the scientific journals, and not being members of scientific soci-- 

 ties they have passed away from their field of labor without proper pub- 

 lic notice. It is but just that their names should be commemorated, and 

 this article, even in its incompleteness, will no doubt possess some 

 value for reference, and as a basis for a more thorough biography. 



Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, April 

 2d, 1743, and died on the 4th day of July, 1826, in the 84th. year of 

 his age. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence, 

 President of the United States, and eminent as a statesman and author. 

 His geological work consists principally in an essay on the fossil bones 

 of the Mastodon and Megalon}'x, published in 1818, in the Transac- 

 tions of the American Philosophical Society. 



Mr. Thomas Say died on the 10th day of October, 1834, in the 47th 

 year of his age, at New Harmony, Indiana. He was born in Phila- 

 delphia, where he lived untii 1825. He then changed his residence to 

 New Harmony. He described more than 1,500 species of insects, a 

 great man}^ land and fresh water shells, and thus, probably, did more 

 than any other individual had done to make known the Zoology of the 

 United States. His contributions to geology were not numerous. He 

 will be remembered as one who enlarged the boundaries of science, 

 and reflected honor upon his countiy, and the age in which he lived. 



Stephen Van Rensselaer, of New York, died on the 26th day of 

 January, 1839, in his 75th year. He laid no claim to being a geologist 

 himself, but evinced the highest opinion of the value of the science 

 by establishing schools where it might be taught, and frequently be- 

 stowing bounties upon those in its pursuit. He maintained Prof. 

 Eaton engaged in geological studies, for many years, and paid the 

 expenses of several publications, and the preparation of many plates. 



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