Joseph Ellison Portlock
Encyclopedia
Major-General Joseph Ellison Portlock (September 30, 1794 — February 14, 1864) was born at Gosport
and was a British
geologist
and soldier
, the only son of Nathaniel Portlock, and a captain in the Royal Navy
.
Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Portlock entered the Royal Engineers
in 1813. In 1814, he took part in the frontier operations in Canada
. In 1824, he was selected by Lieut-colonel (afterwards Major-General) T.F. Colby (1784-1852) to take part in Ordnance Survey of Ireland
. He was engaged for several years in the trigonometrical branch and subsequently compiled information on the physical aspects, geology
, and economic products of Ireland
, including the Memoir for which he wrote substantial sections on productive economy.
In 1837, he formed at Belfast
a geological and statistical office, a museum for geological and zoological specimens, and a laboratory for the examination of soil
s. The work was then carried on by Portlock as the geological branch of the Ordnance Survey, and the chief results were embodied in his Report on the Geology of the County of Londonderry and of parts of Tyrone and Fermanagh (1843), an elaborate and well-illustrated volume in which he was assisted by Thomas Oldham
.
After serving in Corfu
and at Portsmouth
, he was, in 1849, appointed Commanding Royal Engineer at Cork
, and from 1851-1856, he was Inspector of Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
. For a short time, commanding officer at Dover
, when the Council of Military Education was formed in 1857, he was selected as a member.
During these years of active service, he contributed numerous geological papers to the scientific societies of Dublin and to the British Association. He published, in 1848, a treatise on geology in John Weale
's Rudimentary Series (3rd. ed., 1853). He was president of the geological section of the British Association at Belfast (1852) and of the Geological Society of London
(1856-1858). He wrote a Memoir of the late Major-General Colby, with a Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Trigonometrical Survey (reprinted in 1869 from Papers on Subjects connected with the Royal Engineers, vols. iii-v.). He also contributed several articles on military subjects to the 8th edition of the Encyclopaedia. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1837. He died in Dublin on February 14, 1864.
He married twice: firstly Julia Browne at Kilmaine, Co Mayo, Ireland on February 24, 1831, and secondly to Fanny Turner at Cork, Ireland on December 11, 1849. Fanny was the 4th daughter of Major General Charles Turner, KH commander of the Cork District. There was no issue from either marriage.
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
and was a British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
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 soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, the only son of Nathaniel Portlock, and a captain in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Educated at the Royal Military Academy, Portlock entered the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in 1813. In 1814, he took part in the frontier operations in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. In 1824, he was selected by Lieut-colonel (afterwards Major-General) T.F. Colby (1784-1852) to take part in Ordnance Survey of Ireland
Ordnance Survey Ireland
Ordnance Survey Ireland is the national mapping agency of the Republic of Ireland and, together with the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland , succeeded, after 1922, the Irish operations of the United Kingdom Ordnance Survey. It is part of the Public service of the Republic of Ireland...
. He was engaged for several years in the trigonometrical branch and subsequently compiled information on the physical aspects, 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...
, and economic products of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, including the Memoir for which he wrote substantial sections on productive economy.
In 1837, he formed at Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
a geological and statistical office, a museum for geological and zoological specimens, and a laboratory for the examination of soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s. The work was then carried on by Portlock as the geological branch of the Ordnance Survey, and the chief results were embodied in his Report on the Geology of the County of Londonderry and of parts of Tyrone and Fermanagh (1843), an elaborate and well-illustrated volume in which he was assisted by Thomas Oldham
Thomas Oldham
Thomas Oldham was a Anglo-Irish geologist.He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and studied civil engineering at the University of Edinburgh as well as geology under Robert Jameson....
.
After serving in Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
and at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, he was, in 1849, appointed Commanding Royal Engineer at Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, and from 1851-1856, he was Inspector of Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
. For a short time, commanding officer at Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, when the Council of Military Education was formed in 1857, he was selected as a member.
During these years of active service, he contributed numerous geological papers to the scientific societies of Dublin and to the British Association. He published, in 1848, a treatise on geology in John Weale
John Weale
John Weale was an English publisher of popular scientific, architectural, engineering and educational works.-Life:He went into the trade first with George Priestley in St Giles-in-the-Fields who died around 1812, and worked then with Priestley's widow. He took a particular interest in the study of...
's Rudimentary Series (3rd. ed., 1853). He was president of the geological section of the British Association at Belfast (1852) and of the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
(1856-1858). He wrote a Memoir of the late Major-General Colby, with a Sketch of the Origin and Progress of the Trigonometrical Survey (reprinted in 1869 from Papers on Subjects connected with the Royal Engineers, vols. iii-v.). He also contributed several articles on military subjects to the 8th edition of the Encyclopaedia. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1837. He died in Dublin on February 14, 1864.
He married twice: firstly Julia Browne at Kilmaine, Co Mayo, Ireland on February 24, 1831, and secondly to Fanny Turner at Cork, Ireland on December 11, 1849. Fanny was the 4th daughter of Major General Charles Turner, KH commander of the Cork District. There was no issue from either marriage.