Loring Woart Bailey
Encyclopedia
Loring Woart Bailey was an educator, geologist, botanist, and author. He was born at West Point, New York
, the son of a professor at the academy.
Loring Woart Bailey was introduced to scientific circles by his father, first professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at the United States Military Academy in West Point. Eminent American and European scientists visited their home and as a youth he joined his father and brothers in botanical and geological field observations. He was educated at schools in Maryland
and Rhode Island
before entering Harvard University
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
, in 1855. There he studied under the geologist Louis Agassiz
, the botanist Asa Gray
, and the chemist Josiah Parsons Cooke
. His AB degree in 1859 was followed by a period of further study in chemistry at Brown University
in Providence, R.I. He then returned to Harvard, where he served as assistant to Cooke, who in 1861 recommended him, at the age of 21, for the post of professor of chemistry and natural science at the University of New Brunswick
. He would receive his MA from Harvard the following year.
In 1863 and 1864, accompanied by G.F. Matthew and C.F. Hartt, he undertook mineralogical and geological surveys of NB. They discovered the Silurian (Cambrian) age of the rock formations, not Precambrian as had been believed, and laid the foundations for elucidating the entire geological region, including New England
. From 1868 Bailey contributed summer fieldwork to the Geological Survey of Canada. An Royal Society of Canada charter member (1882)
Bailey’s place among eminent geologists of the province was recognized in 1899 when fellow naturalist William Francis Ganong* named a northern New Brunswick mountain after him. His pioneering work in provincial geology enriched his teaching and his influence as a teacher is attested by the success of students such as Ganong and William Diller Matthew (G. F. Matthew’s son), whose early training enabled them to undertake graduate work at prestigious universities; later they contributed to the broader world in botany and palaeontology. Honours bestowed on Bailey included a phd from the University of New Brunswick
in 1873 and an lld from Dalhousie University
in 1896.
Retiring as professor in 1907; he pursued research in biology with a new enthusiasm and published scientific research on diatoms which was widely regarded. He published over 100 scientific works in his lifetime, a number of which were major works.
His son Alfred Bailey
was an important poet and academic.
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, the son of a professor at the academy.
Loring Woart Bailey was introduced to scientific circles by his father, first professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology at the United States Military Academy in West Point. Eminent American and European scientists visited their home and as a youth he joined his father and brothers in botanical and geological field observations. He was educated at schools in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
before entering Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
, in 1855. There he studied under the geologist Louis Agassiz
Louis Agassiz
Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
, the botanist Asa Gray
Asa Gray
-References:*Asa Gray. Dictionary of American Biography. American Council of Learned Societies, 1928–1936.*Asa Gray. Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.*Asa Gray. Plant Sciences. 4 vols. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001....
, and the chemist Josiah Parsons Cooke
Josiah Parsons Cooke
Josiah Parsons Cooke was an American scientist who worked at Harvard University and was instrumental in the measurement of atomic weights, inspiring America's first Nobel laureate in chemistry, Theodore Richards, to pursue similar research...
. His AB degree in 1859 was followed by a period of further study in chemistry at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence, R.I. He then returned to Harvard, where he served as assistant to Cooke, who in 1861 recommended him, at the age of 21, for the post of professor of chemistry and natural science at the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
. He would receive his MA from Harvard the following year.
In 1863 and 1864, accompanied by G.F. Matthew and C.F. Hartt, he undertook mineralogical and geological surveys of NB. They discovered the Silurian (Cambrian) age of the rock formations, not Precambrian as had been believed, and laid the foundations for elucidating the entire geological region, including New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. From 1868 Bailey contributed summer fieldwork to the Geological Survey of Canada. An Royal Society of Canada charter member (1882)
Bailey’s place among eminent geologists of the province was recognized in 1899 when fellow naturalist William Francis Ganong* named a northern New Brunswick mountain after him. His pioneering work in provincial geology enriched his teaching and his influence as a teacher is attested by the success of students such as Ganong and William Diller Matthew (G. F. Matthew’s son), whose early training enabled them to undertake graduate work at prestigious universities; later they contributed to the broader world in botany and palaeontology. Honours bestowed on Bailey included a phd from the University of New Brunswick
University of New Brunswick
The University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
in 1873 and an lld from Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in 1896.
Retiring as professor in 1907; he pursued research in biology with a new enthusiasm and published scientific research on diatoms which was widely regarded. He published over 100 scientific works in his lifetime, a number of which were major works.
His son Alfred Bailey
Alfred Bailey
Alfred Goldsworthy Bailey, was a Canadian educator, poet, anthropologist, ethno-historian, and academic administrator.-Life:...
was an important poet and academic.