Geologist, Explorer, Railroad Pioneer. He grew up in Scarborough, England, where he collected fossils, before moving to the United States in 1806 to study Native American languages. He became a successful farmer and established the first New York Board of Agriculture. He found it difficult to transport his crops economically, and so campaigned for a railroad connecting the Hudson River with the Mohawk River. He was assisted in this by his friend George Stephenson, and was granted a charter to build the railroad in 1826. After a brief period in England he moved to Philadelphia in 1830 to begin construction of the new line, which was opened in 1831. He was appointed the first United States government geologist in 1834, and was sent to survey the land between the Missouri and Red Rivers, which had been acquired in the recent Louisiana Purchase. He made a year long journey, taking in Baltimore, St Louis, Arkansas, Wisconsin and the Mississippi River before reporting his findings to the Topographical Bureau. In 1838 he returned to England and was appointed British consul to France. He spent much of his later life writing accounts of his travels, which were published as "Excursion through the Slave States" (1844) and "A Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotar" (1847). He died in France and his body was returned to England for burial in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Geologist, Explorer, Railroad Pioneer. He grew up in Scarborough, England, where he collected fossils, before moving to the United States in 1806 to study Native American languages. He became a successful farmer and established the first New York Board of Agriculture. He found it difficult to transport his crops economically, and so campaigned for a railroad connecting the Hudson River with the Mohawk River. He was assisted in this by his friend George Stephenson, and was granted a charter to build the railroad in 1826. After a brief period in England he moved to Philadelphia in 1830 to begin construction of the new line, which was opened in 1831. He was appointed the first United States government geologist in 1834, and was sent to survey the land between the Missouri and Red Rivers, which had been acquired in the recent Louisiana Purchase. He made a year long journey, taking in Baltimore, St Louis, Arkansas, Wisconsin and the Mississippi River before reporting his findings to the Topographical Bureau. In 1838 he returned to England and was appointed British consul to France. He spent much of his later life writing accounts of his travels, which were published as "Excursion through the Slave States" (1844) and "A Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotar" (1847). He died in France and his body was returned to England for burial in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Bio by: js
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