Lardner Vanuxem
Encyclopedia
Lardner Vanuxem was an American
geologist
. He was graduated at the Ecole des mines, Paris
, in 1819. After his education, he became the chair of chemistry and mineralogy in Columbia College in South Carolina
. Lardner married Mary Ann Newbold in 1831, and they had seven children. In 1826 he retired from the college and devoted his attention exclusively to geology as a profession. During that year he published in the newspapers and in Robert Mills's "Statistics of South Carolina" reports on the geology of the state.
He visited Mexico
to examine mining property. From 1827 to 1828, he studied the geological features of the states of New York
, Ohio
, Kentucky
, Tennessee
, and Virginia
, under the auspices of the state of New York
, and made his report to its legislature. On the establishment of the geological survey of New York in 1836, Professor Vanuxem was assigned to the charge of the 3d geological district, and continued in the active work of the survey until 1841.
At the close of the survey he spent some time in Albany
in arranging the state geological cabinet, out of which has grown the New York State Museum
. Professor Vanuxem's private collection of mineral and geological specimens was considered at the time of his death as "the largest, best arranged, and most valuable private collection in the country." He was a member of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.
Vanuxem saw the need for a uniform system of nomenclature in the United States
which led him to form a collaborative group that in 1847 became the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
Vanuxem was an intensely religious man. Raised in the Presbyterian Church, he abstained from alcohol and tobacco and was a strong advocate of human rights. He even advocated women's equality.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. He was graduated at the Ecole des mines, Paris
École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris
The École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris was created in 1783 by King Louis XVI in order to train intelligent directors of mines. It is one of the most prominent French engineering schoolsThe École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris (also known as Mines ParisTech, École des Mines de...
, in 1819. After his education, he became the chair of chemistry and mineralogy in Columbia College in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. Lardner married Mary Ann Newbold in 1831, and they had seven children. In 1826 he retired from the college and devoted his attention exclusively to geology as a profession. During that year he published in the newspapers and in Robert Mills's "Statistics of South Carolina" reports on the geology of the state.
He visited Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to examine mining property. From 1827 to 1828, he studied the geological features of the states of 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...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and 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...
, under the auspices of the state of 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...
, and made his report to its legislature. On the establishment of the geological survey of New York in 1836, Professor Vanuxem was assigned to the charge of the 3d geological district, and continued in the active work of the survey until 1841.
At the close of the survey he spent some time in Albany
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...
in arranging the state geological cabinet, out of which has grown the New York State Museum
New York State Museum
The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution in Albany, New York, United States. It is located on Madison Avenue, attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol...
. Professor Vanuxem's private collection of mineral and geological specimens was considered at the time of his death as "the largest, best arranged, and most valuable private collection in the country." He was a member of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences.
Vanuxem saw the need for a uniform system of nomenclature in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which led him to form a collaborative group that in 1847 became the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
Vanuxem was an intensely religious man. Raised in the Presbyterian Church, he abstained from alcohol and tobacco and was a strong advocate of human rights. He even advocated women's equality.
Publications
- Geology of New York, 3d District (Albany, 1842)
- He wrote numerous papers on scientific subjects in the American Journal of Science
- Catalogue of the Cabinet of Natural History of the State of New York, and of the Historical and ... (1853)
- An Essay on the Ultimate Principles of Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, and Physiology (Philadelphia, 1827)
- Account of the jeffersonite, a new mineral discovered at the Franklin Iron Works, near Sparta, in New Jersey with W.H. Keating. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Journal',' vol. 2, pages 194–204 (1822)
- On a new locality of the automolite, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia Journal, vol. 2, pages 249–251 (1822)
External links
Sources
- Pioneers of Science in America By William Jay Youmans, page 270 ISBN 1432552688