George Perkins Merrill
Encyclopedia
George Perkins Merrill was an American
geologist
.
He was educated at the University of Maine
(B.S., 1879; Ph.D., 1889), took a post-graduate courses of study and was assistant in chemistry
at Wesleyan University
, Connecticut
(1879–1880), and subsequently studied at Johns Hopkins
(1886–1887). In 1881, he became assistant curator at the National Museum
, Washington, D.C.
. He also served as professor
of geology and mineralogy at the Corcoran Scientific School of Columbian University
(now George Washington University) from 1893 to 1916, and was appointed head curator
of the department of geology at the National Museum in 1897. In 1922 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
. He wrote many periodical contributions, especially on meteorite
s.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geologist
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...
.
He was educated at the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
(B.S., 1879; Ph.D., 1889), took a post-graduate courses of study and was assistant in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
(1879–1880), and subsequently studied at Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
(1886–1887). In 1881, he became assistant curator at the National Museum
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. He also served as professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of geology and mineralogy at the Corcoran Scientific School of Columbian University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(now George Washington University) from 1893 to 1916, and was appointed head curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
of the department of geology at the National Museum in 1897. In 1922 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
. He wrote many periodical contributions, especially on meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
s.
Publications
His chief publications are:- Stones for Building and Decoration (1891; third edition, 1903)
- A Treatise on Rocks, Rock-Weathering, and Soils (1897; second edition, 1906)
- The Non-Metallic Minerals (1904; second edition, 1910)
- The Fossil Forests of Arizona (1911)
- The First Hundred Years of American Geology (1924)
Further reading
- Waldemar Lindgren, Biographical Memoir George Perkins Merrill 1854-1929
- George Perkins Merrill, Stones for Building and Decoration, Online at Internet Archive