Explorer. A professor of geology, in 1859, he was appointed secretary of the Illinois Natural History Society. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the 20th Illinois volunteers and was commissioned a Lieutenant. Promoted Captain in the 2nd Illinois Artillery, at the Battle of Shiloh, he lost his right arm. He returned to the service after his wound healed and took part in the battles of Champion Hill, Vicksburg and Atlanta. In 1865, he mustered out of the service as a Major chief of artillery, in the 17th Army Corps. After the war, he became connected with the Illinois Normal University, went out west to formulate exploring the Grand Canyon, Colorado. In May, 1869, Powell with ten men in four boats, were the first to journey 1,000 miles through uncharted canyons depths of the Grand Canyon at the mouth of the Virgin River. For his active work as a geologist explorer, he was appointed head of the US Bureau of Ethnology and was the founding member of National Geographic Society.
Explorer. A professor of geology, in 1859, he was appointed secretary of the Illinois Natural History Society. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the 20th Illinois volunteers and was commissioned a Lieutenant. Promoted Captain in the 2nd Illinois Artillery, at the Battle of Shiloh, he lost his right arm. He returned to the service after his wound healed and took part in the battles of Champion Hill, Vicksburg and Atlanta. In 1865, he mustered out of the service as a Major chief of artillery, in the 17th Army Corps. After the war, he became connected with the Illinois Normal University, went out west to formulate exploring the Grand Canyon, Colorado. In May, 1869, Powell with ten men in four boats, were the first to journey 1,000 miles through uncharted canyons depths of the Grand Canyon at the mouth of the Virgin River. For his active work as a geologist explorer, he was appointed head of the US Bureau of Ethnology and was the founding member of National Geographic Society.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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