Ebenezer Emmons
Encyclopedia
Ebenezer Emmons was a pioneering American geologist.
Emmons was born at Middlefield, Massachusetts
, on May 16, 1799, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Mack) Emmons.
He studied medicine at Albany, New York
, and after taking his degree practiced as a doctor for some years in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
. His interest in geology was kindled in early life, and in 1824 he had assisted Prof Chester Dewey (1784-1867) in preparing a geological map of Berkshire County, in which the first attempt was made to classify the rocks of the Taconic
area. He still longed to pursue his interest in geology, so decided to attend the Rensselaer School (now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
). There, he was inspired by the eminent professor Amos Eaton
, and graduated from Rensselaer in its first class in 1826. While thus giving much of his time to natural science, undertaking professional work in natural history and geology in Williams College
, he also accepted the professorship of chemistry and afterwards of obstetrics
at Albany Medical College
.
The chief work of his life was, however, in geology, and he has been designated by Jules Marcou
as the founder of American Paleozoic
stratigraphy
, and the first discoverer of the primordial fauna in any country. In 1836 he became attached to the Geological Survey
of the State of New York, and after lengthened study he grouped the local strata
(1842) into the Taconic and overlying New York
systems. The latter system was subdivided into several groups that were by no means well defined. Emmons had previously described the Potsdam sandstone
(1838), and this was placed at the base of the New York system. It is now regarded as Upper Cambrian
.
In 1844 Emmons for the first time obtained fossils in his Taconic system: a notable discovery because the species obtained were found to differ from all then-known Palaeozoic fossils, and they were regarded as representing the primordial group. Marcou was thus led to advocate that the term Taconic be generally adopted in place of Cambrian. Nevertheless, the Taconic fauna of Emmons proved to include only the lower part of Sedgwick
's Cambrian.
Emmons made contributions on agriculture and geology to a series of volumes on the Natural History of New York (1848). He also issued a work entitled American Geology, containing a statement of the principles of the science with full illustrations of the characteristic American fossils (1855-1857).
The overthrust in New York which places Lower Cambrian rocks in contact with Middle Ordovician
rocks is named for him, known as Emmons' line, formerly Logan's line. It is a segment that extends from Canada through Vermont
, New York, and farther south. It traverses through the city of Troy, New York
and the Poesten Kill
Falls and Gorge. He named the Adirondack Mountains
(1838) and Taconic Mountains
(1844) and acquainted the public with these regions.
A scientific disagreement with New York State Geologist James Hall
regarding the age of the rocks in the Taconic System led Emmons to leave New York state. Emmons held that the Taconic System rocks, were of Cambrian age, but Hall was convinced that they were Ordovician
in age. (Emmons was ultimately found to be correct.) As a result of the dispute, Emmons was banned from the practice of geology in the state of New York and sued Hall for slander and libel. In 1851, after losing the lawsuit, Emmons was hired by the state of North Carolina
for the newly created position of State Geologist. He continued in that position until his death in 1863, at his plantation in Brunswick County, North Carolina
.
Emmons was born at Middlefield, Massachusetts
Middlefield, Massachusetts
Middlefield is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 542 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, on May 16, 1799, son of Ebenezer and Mary (Mack) Emmons.
He studied medicine at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and after taking his degree practiced as a doctor for some years in Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
. His interest in geology was kindled in early life, and in 1824 he had assisted Prof Chester Dewey (1784-1867) in preparing a geological map of Berkshire County, in which the first attempt was made to classify the rocks of the Taconic
Taconic
Taconic can refer to:* Taconic, Connecticut, an unincorporated community in rural Litchfield County, Connecticut* Taconic Correctional Facility, a medium security women's prison in Bedford Hills, New York, United States...
area. He still longed to pursue his interest in geology, so decided to attend the Rensselaer School (now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
). There, he was inspired by the eminent professor Amos Eaton
Amos Eaton
Amos Eaton was a scientist and educator in the Troy, New York area.Eaton attended Williams College; after graduating in 1799 he studied law in New York City and was admitted to the state bar in 1802. He practiced law in Catskill, New York until 1810, when he was jailed on charges of forgery...
, and graduated from Rensselaer in its first class in 1826. While thus giving much of his time to natural science, undertaking professional work in natural history and geology in Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, he also accepted the professorship of chemistry and afterwards of obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
at Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College
Albany Medical College is a medical school located in Albany, New York, United States. It was founded in 1839 by Amos Dean, Dr. Thomas Hun and others, and is one of the oldest medical schools in the nation...
.
The chief work of his life was, however, in geology, and he has been designated by Jules Marcou
Jules Marcou
Jules Marcou was an eminent Swiss-American geologist.He was born at Salins, in the département of Jura, in France....
as the founder of American Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
, and the first discoverer of the primordial fauna in any country. In 1836 he became attached to the Geological Survey
Geological survey
The term geological survey can be used to describe both the conduct of a survey for geological purposes and an institution holding geological information....
of the State of New York, and after lengthened study he grouped the local strata
Stratum
In geology and related fields, a stratum is a layer of sedimentary rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers...
(1842) into the Taconic and overlying 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...
systems. The latter system was subdivided into several groups that were by no means well defined. Emmons had previously described the Potsdam sandstone
Potsdam Sandstone
The Potsdam Sandstone is a geologic formation of late Cambrian to early Ordovician age found in upstate New York and northern Vermont. A well-cemented sandstone of nearly pure quartz, in the 19th century it was widely used in construction and in refractory linings for iron furnaces.-Name and type...
(1838), and this was placed at the base of the New York system. It is now regarded as Upper Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
.
In 1844 Emmons for the first time obtained fossils in his Taconic system: a notable discovery because the species obtained were found to differ from all then-known Palaeozoic fossils, and they were regarded as representing the primordial group. Marcou was thus led to advocate that the term Taconic be generally adopted in place of Cambrian. Nevertheless, the Taconic fauna of Emmons proved to include only the lower part of Sedgwick
Adam Sedgwick
Adam Sedgwick was one of the founders of modern geology. He proposed the Devonian period of the geological timescale...
's Cambrian.
Emmons made contributions on agriculture and geology to a series of volumes on the Natural History of New York (1848). He also issued a work entitled American Geology, containing a statement of the principles of the science with full illustrations of the characteristic American fossils (1855-1857).
The overthrust in New York which places Lower Cambrian rocks in contact with Middle Ordovician
Ordovician
The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
rocks is named for him, known as Emmons' line, formerly Logan's line. It is a segment that extends from Canada through Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, New York, and farther south. It traverses through the city of Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
and the Poesten Kill
Poesten Kill
The Poesten Kill is a creek in upstate New York located entirely in Rensselaer County, which flows westerly from its source at Dyken Pond in the town of Berlin to its mouth at the Hudson River in the city of Troy...
Falls and Gorge. He named the Adirondack Mountains
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
(1838) and Taconic Mountains
Taconic Mountains
The Taconic Mountains or Taconic Range are a physiographic section of the larger New England province and part of the Appalachian Mountains, running along the eastern border of New York State and adjacent New England from northwest Connecticut to western Massachusetts, north to central western...
(1844) and acquainted the public with these regions.
A scientific disagreement with New York State Geologist James Hall
James Hall (paleontologist)
James Hall was an American geologist and paleontologist. He was a noted authority on stratigraphy and had an influential role in the development of American paleontology.-Early life:...
regarding the age of the rocks in the Taconic System led Emmons to leave New York state. Emmons held that the Taconic System rocks, were of Cambrian age, but Hall was convinced that they were Ordovician
Ordovician
The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
in age. (Emmons was ultimately found to be correct.) As a result of the dispute, Emmons was banned from the practice of geology in the state of New York and sued Hall for slander and libel. In 1851, after losing the lawsuit, Emmons was hired by the state of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
for the newly created position of State Geologist. He continued in that position until his death in 1863, at his plantation in Brunswick County, North Carolina
Brunswick County, North Carolina
-External links:*******....
.