Edwin James (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Edwin James was a 19th-century American
botanist, geographer
and geologist
who explored the American West. James completed the first recorded ascent of Pikes Peak
.
Born in Weybridge, Vermont
, to Daniel and Mary (Emmes) James, he prepared for college at Addison County Grammar School before entering Middlebury College
in 1812. After receiving his A.B.
in 1816, James moved to Albany, New York
, to continue study in medicine (with his brother Daniel James), botany with John Torrey, and geology with Amos Eaton
. He married Clara Rogers on 17 April 1827; they had one child who was also named Edwin.
In 1820, James was appointed to Major S.H. Long's expedition "from the Mississipi to the Rocky Mountains"; he served as botanist and geologist
and is considered one of the first scientists to explore the Rocky Mountains
and environs. James lead the first ascent of Pikes Peak
in 1820. The expedition notes were recorded in the 1823 publication of Expedition to the Rocky Mountains 1818-1819, which he authored. James was appointed a surgeon in the U.S. Army, serving at outposts on the American frontier. He also served as an Indian agent
and learned the Ojibwe language
, taking on the role of an amateur linguist, naming the pidgin Broken Oghibbeway and editing A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner
, published 1830.
After leaving government service, James settled in Iowa and published nine books, including the first translation of the Bible
in Ojibwe
. He died on 28 October 1861 in Burlington, Iowa
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
botanist, geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
and 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...
who explored the American West. James completed the first recorded ascent of Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
.
Born in Weybridge, Vermont
Weybridge, Vermont
Weybridge is a town in Addison County, Vermont, United States. The population was 824 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.6 square miles , of which 17.0 square miles is land and 0.6 square mile is...
, to Daniel and Mary (Emmes) James, he prepared for college at Addison County Grammar School before entering Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in 1812. After receiving his A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1816, James moved to 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...
, to continue study in medicine (with his brother Daniel James), botany with John Torrey, and geology with 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...
. He married Clara Rogers on 17 April 1827; they had one child who was also named Edwin.
In 1820, James was appointed to Major S.H. Long's expedition "from the Mississipi to the Rocky Mountains"; he served as botanist and 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...
and is considered one of the first scientists to explore the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
and environs. James lead the first ascent of Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
in 1820. The expedition notes were recorded in the 1823 publication of Expedition to the Rocky Mountains 1818-1819, which he authored. James was appointed a surgeon in the U.S. Army, serving at outposts on the American frontier. He also served as an Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
and learned the Ojibwe language
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
, taking on the role of an amateur linguist, naming the pidgin Broken Oghibbeway and editing A Narrative of the Captivity and Adventures of John Tanner
John Tanner (narrator)
John Tanner was captured by Shawnee American Indians as a child of ten, after his family had moved to territory on the Ohio River in present-day Kentucky. He grew up with the Ojibwa nation, becoming fully acculturated and learning the Saulteaux language...
, published 1830.
After leaving government service, James settled in Iowa and published nine books, including the first translation of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
in Ojibwe
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
. He died on 28 October 1861 in Burlington, Iowa
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
.