William Maclure
Encyclopedia
William Maclure, American - British social experimenter on new types of community life together with British social reformer Robert Owen
, (1771–1854), in Indiana State, U. S. A.. Maclure, (Born 1763 in Ayr
, Scotland
– March 23, 1840), aged 77, at San Ángel
, Mexico), was an American geologist
, the unpaid maker of the rather accurate first geological map of the United States in 1809, six years before the Geological Map of England by William Smith
.
" School System, from Swiss pedagogist Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
, (1746–1827), in France during the Napoleonic ephemeral Empire and then in Alicante
, Spain, during the three years, between 1820 and 1823, known as the Constitutional Period.
Maclure was born at Ayr
in Scotland
. After a brief visit to New York
in 1782 he began active life as a partner in a London firm of American merchants. In 1796 business affairs took him to Virginia
, U.S.A., which he thereafter made his home. In 1803 he visited France as one of the commissioners appointed to settle the claims of American citizens on the French government; and during the few years then spent in Europe he applied himself with enthusiasm to the study of geology
.
On his return home in 1807 he commenced the self-imposed task of making a geological survey of the United States. Almost every state in the Union was traversed and mapped by him, the Allegheny Mountains
being crossed and recrossed some fifty times. The results of his unaided labours were submitted to the American Philosophical Society
in a memoir entitled Observations on the Geology of the United States explanatory of a Geological Map, and published in the Society's Transactions (vol. iv. 1809, p. 91) together with the first geological map of that country. This antedates William Smith
's geological map of England by six years.
In 1812, while in France, Maclure became a member of the newly founded Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
(ANSP). In 1817 Maclure became president of the ANSP, a post he held for the next twenty-two years.
In 1817 Maclure, resident in Europe, brought before the same society a revised edition of his map, and his great geological memoir was issued separately, with some additional matter, under the title Observations on the Geology of the United States of America. Subsequent survey has corroborated the general accuracy of Maclure's observations.
In 1819 he visited Spain, and attempted, unsuccessfully, to establish an agricultural college near the city of Alicante
. Returning to America in 1824, he settled for some years at New Harmony, Indiana
, and sought to develop his scheme of the agricultural college. In 1826, he was the President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
. Failing health ultimately constrained him to relinquish the attempt, and to seek (in 1827) a more congenial climate in Mexico. There, at San Ángel, he died, aged 77, 1840.
Mount Maclure
in Yosemite National Park
is named after Maclure.
(1801–1877) social reformer; William Owen
(1802–1842) citizen of New Harmony; David Dale Owen
(1807–1860), geologist, artist; Jane Dale Owen Fauntleroy (1806–1861), educator and Richard Owen
(1810–1890) geologist, first president of Purdue University
, Lafayette, Indiana
. They interacted there with the best contemporary crop of geologists, social reformers, botanists, paleobotanists, etnologists, civil engineers, etc.
William Maclure, geology, Benjamin Silliman. A rearranged transcription of some words to be found in the original book:
start, page 1:From Paris June 30, 1805 to Grindelwald, basalt, Airolo, Chamonix.
page 67:Lauterbrunnen Switzerland Sept. Clos de Vougeot, Lake Lucerne, Linth
page 83:Paris Nov 3 1807 to Ales France Dec. gneiss, schist, Chaudes-Aigues
page 101: Ales France Dec 10 1807 to Manresa SpainMontpellier, puddingstone, Le Boulou
page 121: Cardona Spain Feb 6 1808 to Alicante. Torredembarra, Alicante, gypsum
page 143: Cape de Gata Thursday Apr. calash, Diego de Siloe, Iznalloz
page 163: Uppsala Sweden Nov. Stockholm, Karl XIII, Rothoff
page 215: Norrkopping Sweden Jan. Tornio, Stockholm, Celsius
page 255:Enalambi Finland Mar 27 1810 to Valda versts, Petersburg, rubles
page 297: Lanchakrak Russia Aug 9 1810 to Cracow, versts, Tul'chin, Vistula
page 339: Basle Switzerland Aug 18 1811 to Ala in Brentonico, goitres, Baveno
page 377:Monte Baldo Italy Sept 26 1811 to Trieste Brentonico, Cavalese, Predazzo
page 421:Montefalcone Italy Oct 29 1811 to Florence analcime, Valdagno, Euganean Hills
page 457: Florence Italy Dec 1 1811 to Naples Italy leucites, Naples, augites
page 499: Mar. Taro River, Paestum, Radicofani
page 539:Turin Italy May 10, 1812 to Limoges France goitres, granite, Mont Cenis
page 581 Limoges France June 8, 1812 to Paris France Beurlay, Angoulême, Charente River
page 613: Paris July 3, 1813 to Paris October Act of Mediation, Jussey, Linthal
page 665:Paris January 30, 1814 to Fontainebleau Le Havre, Thomas Say, Orihuela
page 747:A Notes on the geology of Auvergne and Switzerland schorl
page 755:Hints On The Arrangement Hundwil, Boudri, Neuchâtel
page 763:G Record of time spent in traveling from place Airolo, francs, Martigny
page 770: J List of books and maps carried by J C Cabell Berchem, Canton, Grisons
page 773:Notes entitled Across the Chain of the Vosges Topazolite, Galena, Cantal
page 780: P List of cases of rock specimens collected by Maclure analcime, Laibach, Verona
page 787 U Reference to a Captain Simiot plus an evaluation
Index
xiv
Samuel George Morton, Charles Alexandre Lesueur, Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz
Diagrams and Sketches
xxxiii
David Dale Owen, Cosne, Riom
Current of lava at the Puy de la Nugere
5
Lempdes, Clermont, Le Puy
Line of basalt and granite peaks
31
Vizille, Grenoble, Vivarais
Sketch of the stratification of St Gotthard
72
Clos de Vougeot, Magnac-Bourg, Camisards
Coal seams at Lapleau
89
Chaudes-Aigues, Lapleau, Aurillac
Vein of galenite near Alliac
97
Le Bleymard, cupel, Quissac
Sketch of the chambers used for making
103
Montpellier, Montferrier, Bessan
Stone found in volcanic breccia near
110
Le Boulou, Perpignan, La Junquera
Mountain of freestone or greywacke southwest
115
Montserrat, Barcelona, Tordera
Stratification from Cardona to Barcelona
122
Torredembarra, Tarragona, Charles IV
Sketch of the terrain around Darro
148
Swedish sleigh on dual sleds
180
Device for showing pressure on a steam
198
Chaptals plan of chambers for making
207
Outline of the hills near Docksta
240
Russian still for making brandy
271
Arrangement for Argand lamps
279
Sketch of a Russian plough
295
Outline of the mountains south of Lemberg
315
Transition formation at Miedziana Gora
327
Example of stratification from Geneva to
347
Rough sketch of the relative situation of
363
Alternation of Tofo and basalt near
374
Strata in the mountains near Brentonico
378
No 49B Geological profile of the country from Lavis
391
Chamber for condensing mercury at Idria
412
Strata of trap and calcaire at Castel
440
Steatitic rock or serpentine at a hill called
458
Grinding mills found at Pompeii
480
System of supporting grapevines on trees
527
Detail of pise construction at Les Echelles
554
Bed of flints overlaying a bed of Gryphytes
603
Maps of Routes Traveled by Maclure
xxiv
France and Switzerland
1
France and Spain
82
Spain
142
Sweden
163
Sweden Finland and Russia
214
Russia
254
Grand Duchy of Warsaw
323
Switzerland and Italy
338
Italy and the Illyrian Provinces
376
Italy and the Illyrian Provinces
420
Italy and the Illyrian Provinces
456
Italy and France
580
France
612
Ireland Scotland and England
674
Robert Owen
Robert Owen was a Welsh social reformer and one of the founders of utopian socialism and the cooperative movement.Owen's philosophy was based on three intellectual pillars:...
, (1771–1854), in Indiana State, U. S. A.. Maclure, (Born 1763 in Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
– March 23, 1840), aged 77, at San Ángel
San Ángel
San Ángel is a colonia or neighborhood of Mexico City, located in the southwest in Álvaro Óbregon borough. Historically, it was a rural community, called Tenanitla in the pre Hispanic period. Its current name is derived from the El Carmen monastery school called San Ángel Mártir...
, Mexico), was an American geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, the unpaid maker of the rather accurate first geological map of the United States in 1809, six years before the Geological Map of England by William Smith
William Smith (geologist)
William 'Strata' Smith was an English geologist, credited with creating the first nationwide geological map. He is known as the "Father of English Geology" for collating the geological history of England and Wales into a single record, although recognition was very slow in coming...
.
Biography
He lived in Switzerland, being impressed with the today called "PestalozziPestalozzi
Pestalozzi may refer to:* Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi * Hans A. Pestalozzi Schools with that name:* Colegio Pestalozzi, Argentina* Pestalozzi-Gymnasium Biberach, Germany* Kinderdorf Pestalozzi, Switzerland...
" School System, from Swiss pedagogist Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi
Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi was a Swiss pedagogue and educational reformer who exemplified Romanticism in his approach....
, (1746–1827), in France during the Napoleonic ephemeral Empire and then in Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, Spain, during the three years, between 1820 and 1823, known as the Constitutional Period.
Maclure was born at Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. After a brief visit to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1782 he began active life as a partner in a London firm of American merchants. In 1796 business affairs took him to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, U.S.A., which he thereafter made his home. In 1803 he visited France as one of the commissioners appointed to settle the claims of American citizens on the French government; and during the few years then spent in Europe he applied himself with enthusiasm to the study of geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
.
On his return home in 1807 he commenced the self-imposed task of making a geological survey of the United States. Almost every state in the Union was traversed and mapped by him, the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
being crossed and recrossed some fifty times. The results of his unaided labours were submitted to the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
in a memoir entitled Observations on the Geology of the United States explanatory of a Geological Map, and published in the Society's Transactions (vol. iv. 1809, p. 91) together with the first geological map of that country. This antedates William Smith
William Smith (geologist)
William 'Strata' Smith was an English geologist, credited with creating the first nationwide geological map. He is known as the "Father of English Geology" for collating the geological history of England and Wales into a single record, although recognition was very slow in coming...
's geological map of England by six years.
In 1812, while in France, Maclure became a member of the newly founded Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
(ANSP). In 1817 Maclure became president of the ANSP, a post he held for the next twenty-two years.
In 1817 Maclure, resident in Europe, brought before the same society a revised edition of his map, and his great geological memoir was issued separately, with some additional matter, under the title Observations on the Geology of the United States of America. Subsequent survey has corroborated the general accuracy of Maclure's observations.
In 1819 he visited Spain, and attempted, unsuccessfully, to establish an agricultural college near the city of Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
. Returning to America in 1824, he settled for some years at New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony is a historic town on the Wabash River in Harmony Township, Posey County, Indiana, United States. It lies north of Mount Vernon, the county seat. The population was 916 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Evansville metropolitan area. Many of the old Harmonist buildings still stand...
, and sought to develop his scheme of the agricultural college. In 1826, he was the President of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
Academy of Natural Sciences
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, formerly Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, is the oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World...
. Failing health ultimately constrained him to relinquish the attempt, and to seek (in 1827) a more congenial climate in Mexico. There, at San Ángel, he died, aged 77, 1840.
Mount Maclure
Mount Maclure
Mount Maclure is the nearest neighbor to Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park. Mount Maclure is located at the southeast end of the Cathedral Range, about northwest of Lyell. It is named for William Maclure, was a pioneer in American geology, who produced one of the earliest...
in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
is named after Maclure.
New Harmony
The New Harmony commune in Indiana produced a number of geologists, naturalists, and botanists which were influenced by Maclure, such as: Robert Dale OwenRobert Dale Owen
Robert Dale Owen was a longtime exponent in his adopted United States of the socialist doctrines of his father, Robert Owen, as well as a politician in the Democratic Party.-Biography:...
(1801–1877) social reformer; William Owen
William Owen
Sir William Francis Langer Owen, KBE, PC , Australian judge, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia....
(1802–1842) citizen of New Harmony; David Dale Owen
David Dale Owen
David Dale Owen was a prominent American geologist. He conducted the first geological surveys of Indiana, Kentucky, and Arkansas.David Dale was the third son of Robert Owen, a Welsh reformer who moved to the United States and established a social experiment at New Harmony, Indiana, where David...
(1807–1860), geologist, artist; Jane Dale Owen Fauntleroy (1806–1861), educator and Richard Owen
Richard Owen
Sir Richard Owen, FRS KCB was an English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist.Owen is probably best remembered today for coining the word Dinosauria and for his outspoken opposition to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection...
(1810–1890) geologist, first president of Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
. They interacted there with the best contemporary crop of geologists, social reformers, botanists, paleobotanists, etnologists, civil engineers, etc.
European Journals
The European Journals of William Maclure. Here is the Index retrieved for over 600 pages of this monumental book:William Maclure, geology, Benjamin Silliman. A rearranged transcription of some words to be found in the original book:
start, page 1:From Paris June 30, 1805 to Grindelwald, basalt, Airolo, Chamonix.
page 67:Lauterbrunnen Switzerland Sept. Clos de Vougeot, Lake Lucerne, Linth
page 83:Paris Nov 3 1807 to Ales France Dec. gneiss, schist, Chaudes-Aigues
page 101: Ales France Dec 10 1807 to Manresa SpainMontpellier, puddingstone, Le Boulou
page 121: Cardona Spain Feb 6 1808 to Alicante. Torredembarra, Alicante, gypsum
page 143: Cape de Gata Thursday Apr. calash, Diego de Siloe, Iznalloz
page 163: Uppsala Sweden Nov. Stockholm, Karl XIII, Rothoff
page 215: Norrkopping Sweden Jan. Tornio, Stockholm, Celsius
page 255:Enalambi Finland Mar 27 1810 to Valda versts, Petersburg, rubles
page 297: Lanchakrak Russia Aug 9 1810 to Cracow, versts, Tul'chin, Vistula
page 339: Basle Switzerland Aug 18 1811 to Ala in Brentonico, goitres, Baveno
page 377:Monte Baldo Italy Sept 26 1811 to Trieste Brentonico, Cavalese, Predazzo
page 421:Montefalcone Italy Oct 29 1811 to Florence analcime, Valdagno, Euganean Hills
page 457: Florence Italy Dec 1 1811 to Naples Italy leucites, Naples, augites
page 499: Mar. Taro River, Paestum, Radicofani
page 539:Turin Italy May 10, 1812 to Limoges France goitres, granite, Mont Cenis
page 581 Limoges France June 8, 1812 to Paris France Beurlay, Angoulême, Charente River
page 613: Paris July 3, 1813 to Paris October Act of Mediation, Jussey, Linthal
page 665:Paris January 30, 1814 to Fontainebleau Le Havre, Thomas Say, Orihuela
page 747:A Notes on the geology of Auvergne and Switzerland schorl
page 755:Hints On The Arrangement Hundwil, Boudri, Neuchâtel
page 763:G Record of time spent in traveling from place Airolo, francs, Martigny
page 770: J List of books and maps carried by J C Cabell Berchem, Canton, Grisons
page 773:Notes entitled Across the Chain of the Vosges Topazolite, Galena, Cantal
page 780: P List of cases of rock specimens collected by Maclure analcime, Laibach, Verona
page 787 U Reference to a Captain Simiot plus an evaluation
Index
xiv
Samuel George Morton, Charles Alexandre Lesueur, Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz
Diagrams and Sketches
xxxiii
David Dale Owen, Cosne, Riom
Current of lava at the Puy de la Nugere
5
Lempdes, Clermont, Le Puy
Line of basalt and granite peaks
31
Vizille, Grenoble, Vivarais
Sketch of the stratification of St Gotthard
72
Clos de Vougeot, Magnac-Bourg, Camisards
Coal seams at Lapleau
89
Chaudes-Aigues, Lapleau, Aurillac
Vein of galenite near Alliac
97
Le Bleymard, cupel, Quissac
Sketch of the chambers used for making
103
Montpellier, Montferrier, Bessan
Stone found in volcanic breccia near
110
Le Boulou, Perpignan, La Junquera
Mountain of freestone or greywacke southwest
115
Montserrat, Barcelona, Tordera
Stratification from Cardona to Barcelona
122
Torredembarra, Tarragona, Charles IV
Sketch of the terrain around Darro
148
Swedish sleigh on dual sleds
180
Device for showing pressure on a steam
198
Chaptals plan of chambers for making
207
Outline of the hills near Docksta
240
Russian still for making brandy
271
Arrangement for Argand lamps
279
Sketch of a Russian plough
295
Outline of the mountains south of Lemberg
315
Transition formation at Miedziana Gora
327
Example of stratification from Geneva to
347
Rough sketch of the relative situation of
363
Alternation of Tofo and basalt near
374
Strata in the mountains near Brentonico
378
No 49B Geological profile of the country from Lavis
391
Chamber for condensing mercury at Idria
412
Strata of trap and calcaire at Castel
440
Steatitic rock or serpentine at a hill called
458
Grinding mills found at Pompeii
480
System of supporting grapevines on trees
527
Detail of pise construction at Les Echelles
554
Bed of flints overlaying a bed of Gryphytes
603
Maps of Routes Traveled by Maclure
xxiv
France and Switzerland
1
France and Spain
82
Spain
142
Sweden
163
Sweden Finland and Russia
214
Russia
254
Grand Duchy of Warsaw
323
Switzerland and Italy
338
Italy and the Illyrian Provinces
376
Italy and the Illyrian Provinces
420
Italy and the Illyrian Provinces
456
Italy and France
580
France
612
Ireland Scotland and England
674
External Links
- Biography of William Maclure by James S. Aber
- William Maclure by University of Evansville
- New Harmony Workingmen's Institute, legacy of William Maclure by University of Evansville
- History of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
- New Harmony Scientists, Educators, Writers & Artists by University of Evansville