George Davidson (geographer)
Encyclopedia
George Davidson was an geodesist, astronomer, geographer, surveyor and engineer in the United States
.
. He graduated at the Central High School in Philadelphia in 1845, standing first in his class.
While a student, he had shown interest in scientific work, and had assisted Alexander D. Bache in his observations of the magnetic elements at Girard College
. Upon his graduation in 1845, he began his career as clerk to Bache who was superindentent of the United States Coast Survey.
From 1846 to 1850, Davidson was occupied in geodetic field work, and in astronomy, serving in the different states on the east coast of the United States. In 1850, he went to California under the auspices of the Coast Survey, and was for several years engaged in the determination of the latitude and longitude of prominent capes, bays, etc., and of the magnetic elements of the Pacific Coast, reporting also upon the proper locations for lighthouses. His work included a survey of Washington and Puget
sounds, and he had charge of the main triangulation of the coast in the region of San Francisco. From 1861 until 1867, he was again on the Atlantic seaboard, principally engaged in engineering work on coast and river defences. At one time, he was in command of the Coast Survey steamer “Vixen,” and later performed astronomical work along the eastern coast.
In 1866, he became chief engineer of an expedition for the survey of a ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien. In 1867, he was appointed to make a special examination and report upon the geography and resources of Alaska
, pending its purchase; his published report and conferences with congressional committees influenced the passage of the bill. He was placed in charge, during 1867, of the work of the Coast Survey on the Pacific, planned work for the land parties from 1868 until 1875, and inspected all the fields of work. He traveled extensively in Egypt, China, India and Europe, for purposes of scientific study.
From 1876 to 1886, he had charge of the main triangulation and astronomical work on the west coast; the records of the computing division showed that the results of his observations stood higher than any ever executed in America, Europe, or India, and they were characterized as “unique in the history of geodesy.” In 1881, Davidson twice measured the Yolo base line, one of the geodesic base lines that formed the foundation of triangulating distances in California. At that time, it was the longest base line yet attempted in trigonometrical operations, and the system of triangulation directly connected therewith was called in his honor the “Davidson quadrilaterals.” He also measured the Los Angeles base line three times in 1888-1889. He retired from the Coast Survey in 1895, after 50 years of service.
He founded the Davidson Observatory in San Francisco, which was the first astronomical observatory on the Pacific coast of North America, and in 1869 brought the Pacific geodetic of the coast survey in telegraphic longitude connection with Greenwich. His astronomical work includes the observation of the total solar eclipse under the 60th parallel, in 1869; determination of the 120th meridian in 1873; charge of the U. S. transit of Venus
expedition, in 1874; recovery of the transit of Venus station of 1709 in Lower California occupied by Auteroche de la Chappe; observation of the total solar eclipse
of 7 January 1880; and in 1882 charge of the party to observe the transit of Venus in New Mexico.
Other positions held by Davidson include president of the California Academy of Sciences
from 1871 to 1887, Honorary Professor of Geodesy and Astronomy, and Regent of the University of California
from 1877 to 1885. After his retirement from the Coast Survey, he became the first professor of geography at the University of California, Berkeley
, and chaired that department from 1898 until his retirement in 1905, and remained an emeritus professor until his death. Davidson was one of 182 charter members of the Sierra Club
in 1892 and served as a member of its board of directors from 1894 to 1910.
He contributed numerous papers to the California Academy of Sciences, and published a quantity of special reports contained in government publications.
in 1908.
off the coast of California
, and Mount Davidson and Davidson Street in San Francisco
are named for him. The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey named two ships for him, the launch
USC&GS Davidson
, in service from 1933 to 1935, and the hydrographic
survey ship USC&GS Davidson, which entered service in the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1967 and then served in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
fleet as NOAAS Davidson (S 331)
from 1970 to 1989.
In 1946, George Davidson's daughter Ellinor established the George Davidson Medal
, along with the American Geographical Society, to honor her father.
was a naval architect with the United States Navy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Born May 9, 1825 in England, he came to the U.S. in 1832 with his parents, who settled in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He graduated at the Central High School in Philadelphia in 1845, standing first in his class.
While a student, he had shown interest in scientific work, and had assisted Alexander D. Bache in his observations of the magnetic elements at Girard College
Girard College
Girard College is an independent boarding school on a 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Girard is for academically capable students, grades one through 12, and awards a full scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $42,000 to every child admitted to the...
. Upon his graduation in 1845, he began his career as clerk to Bache who was superindentent of the United States Coast Survey.
From 1846 to 1850, Davidson was occupied in geodetic field work, and in astronomy, serving in the different states on the east coast of the United States. In 1850, he went to California under the auspices of the Coast Survey, and was for several years engaged in the determination of the latitude and longitude of prominent capes, bays, etc., and of the magnetic elements of the Pacific Coast, reporting also upon the proper locations for lighthouses. His work included a survey of Washington and Puget
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
sounds, and he had charge of the main triangulation of the coast in the region of San Francisco. From 1861 until 1867, he was again on the Atlantic seaboard, principally engaged in engineering work on coast and river defences. At one time, he was in command of the Coast Survey steamer “Vixen,” and later performed astronomical work along the eastern coast.
In 1866, he became chief engineer of an expedition for the survey of a ship canal across the Isthmus of Darien. In 1867, he was appointed to make a special examination and report upon the geography and resources of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, pending its purchase; his published report and conferences with congressional committees influenced the passage of the bill. He was placed in charge, during 1867, of the work of the Coast Survey on the Pacific, planned work for the land parties from 1868 until 1875, and inspected all the fields of work. He traveled extensively in Egypt, China, India and Europe, for purposes of scientific study.
From 1876 to 1886, he had charge of the main triangulation and astronomical work on the west coast; the records of the computing division showed that the results of his observations stood higher than any ever executed in America, Europe, or India, and they were characterized as “unique in the history of geodesy.” In 1881, Davidson twice measured the Yolo base line, one of the geodesic base lines that formed the foundation of triangulating distances in California. At that time, it was the longest base line yet attempted in trigonometrical operations, and the system of triangulation directly connected therewith was called in his honor the “Davidson quadrilaterals.” He also measured the Los Angeles base line three times in 1888-1889. He retired from the Coast Survey in 1895, after 50 years of service.
He founded the Davidson Observatory in San Francisco, which was the first astronomical observatory on the Pacific coast of North America, and in 1869 brought the Pacific geodetic of the coast survey in telegraphic longitude connection with Greenwich. His astronomical work includes the observation of the total solar eclipse under the 60th parallel, in 1869; determination of the 120th meridian in 1873; charge of the U. S. transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
expedition, in 1874; recovery of the transit of Venus station of 1709 in Lower California occupied by Auteroche de la Chappe; observation of the total solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
of 7 January 1880; and in 1882 charge of the party to observe the transit of Venus in New Mexico.
Other positions held by Davidson include president of the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
from 1871 to 1887, Honorary Professor of Geodesy and Astronomy, and Regent of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
from 1877 to 1885. After his retirement from the Coast Survey, he became the first professor of geography at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, and chaired that department from 1898 until his retirement in 1905, and remained an emeritus professor until his death. Davidson was one of 182 charter members of the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
in 1892 and served as a member of its board of directors from 1894 to 1910.
Works
- Coast Pilot of California, Oregon and Washington (1857–1887)
- Coast Pilot of Alaska (Part I, 1868)
- The Alaska Boundary (1903)
- The Glaciers of Alaska (1904)
- The Discovery of San Francisco Bay (1907)
- Francis Drake on the Northwest Coast of America (1908)
- Origin and Meaning of the Name California (1910)
He contributed numerous papers to the California Academy of Sciences, and published a quantity of special reports contained in government publications.
Honors
He was awarded the Daly Medal by the American Geographical SocietyAmerican Geographical Society
The American Geographical Society is an organization of professional geographers, founded in 1851 in New York City. Most fellows of the society are Americans, but among them have always been a significant number of fellows from around the world...
in 1908.
Namesakes
The Davidson SeamountDavidson Seamount
Davidson Seamount is a seamount located off the coast of Central California, southwest of Monterey and west of San Simeon. At long and wide, it is one of the largest known seamounts in the world. From base to crest, the seamount is tall, yet its summit is still below the sea surface...
off the coast of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and Mount Davidson and Davidson Street in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
are named for him. The United States Coast and Geodetic Survey named two ships for him, the launch
Launch (boat)
A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding...
USC&GS Davidson
USC&GS Davidson (1925)
The first USC&GS Davidson was a launch in service with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1933 to 1935.Davidson was built by the Luders at Stamford, Connecticut, in 1925 for the United States Coast Guard. The Coast and Geodetic Survey acquired her in 1933, named her Davidson, and...
, in service from 1933 to 1935, and the hydrographic
Hydrographic survey
Hydrographic survey is the science of measurement and description of features which affect maritime navigation, marine construction, dredging, offshore oil exploration/drilling and related disciplines. Strong emphasis is placed on soundings, shorelines, tides, currents, sea floor and submerged...
survey ship USC&GS Davidson, which entered service in the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1967 and then served in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
fleet as NOAAS Davidson (S 331)
NOAAS Davidson (S 331)
NOAA Davidson , originally the second USC&GS Davidson, was a survey ship in service with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey from 1967 to 1970 and with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from 1970 to 1989....
from 1970 to 1989.
In 1946, George Davidson's daughter Ellinor established the George Davidson Medal
George Davidson Medal
The George Davidson Medal is awarded by the American Geographical Society for the “exceptional achievement in research for exploration in the Pacific Ocean or the lands bordering therein.” In 1946, the American Geographical Society received a bequest of $5000 from his daughter Ellinor Campbell...
, along with the American Geographical Society, to honor her father.
Family
His brother Thomas DavidsonThomas Davidson (naval architect)
Thomas Davidson was a naval constructor for the United States Navy.-Biography:He came to the United States, at the age of four years, with his parents, who settled in Philadelphia...
was a naval architect with the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
External links
- NOAA History: Profiles in Time C&GS Biographies: George Davidson
- Guide to the George Davidson Papers at The Bancroft Library
- Coast Pilot of California, Oregon and Washington from Google Books
- NOAA History: Tools of the Trade: Coast and Geodetic Survey Ships: Davidson for the launch for 1933–1935
- NOAA History: Tools of the Trade: Coast and Geodetic Survey Ships: Davidson for the survey ship of 1967-1989
- Photographs of the Yolo Base Line, California, 1881, The Bancroft Library