Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 05.djvu/294

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HITCHCOCK


HITCHCOCK


England. 1866. He was non-resident professor of mineralogy and geology in Lafayette college. Pa., 1865- ru. In 1868 he became professor of geology and mineralogy in Dartmouth college. He was state geologist of New Hampshire, 1868- 78, and in 187^-71 he established a meteorological station on Mount Washington, afterward used in the U.S. signal service. He was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 187-4 and vice-pre.sident in 1883, and a member of the Americiiu Philosophical society and of other scientitie organizations. Lafayette college conferred upon him the degree of Ph.D. in 1869: and Amherst, that of LL.D. in 1896. He is the author of: Ekmcntdry Geology (with Edward Hitchcock. 1860): ^foH^lt Washington in Winter(lSll); Geology of Xew Hampshire (1878), and over loO reports, addresses, maps and scien- tific papers.

HITCHCOCK, Edward, scientist, was born at Deertield. .Alass.. May 2:3. 1793; son of Justin and Mercy (Hoyt) Hitclicock, grandson of Caleb Hitchcock, great-grandson of Luke, and great*- grandson of Luke Hitchcock, who immigrated from England to America in 1635, and was one of the origi- nal members of the New Haven colony. Edward's fatlier set- tled at Deerfield, Mass., and became a hatter. Edward was obliged to obtain his education in the com- mon sciiools of Deer- field, and by study at night. He prepared to enter Harvard, but failing health caused by overwork jjievent- ed. He was principal of the academj' at Deer- field, 1822-36, and while there, he became inter- ested in botany and mineralogy. Deciding on the ministry for his profession, he entered Yale Theological seminary, where he was graduated in 1821. The same year he was married to Orra, daughter of Jarib White, of Amherst. Mass. She was an artist, and illustrated many of her Jius- band's books. Mr. Hitchcock was ordained to the Congregational ministry, and was pastor of the church in Conway, Mass., 1821-25. During Ills pastorate, he made a geological survey of western Massachusetts, and studied chemistry and geology at Yale, under the elder Silliman. He was professor of chemistry and natural historj- at Amherst, ls25-45; state geologist of Massa- ciiusetts in 1830; and president of .Vmherst college, 1845-54, retaining the professorship of natural


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theology and geology, 1845-64. In 1835 trifid imprints upon sandstone found in the Connecticut valley were discovered and pronounced by Pro- fessor Hitclicock to be fossil footprints, a state- ment that was at first ridiculed, but on being re- ferred to a committee of the American Association of Geologists in 1841, it was confirmed. Professor Hitchcock was state geologist for Vermont, 1857- 61; a member of the Massachusetts board of agriculture, and was commissioned by that state in 1850 to examine and report on the agricultural schools of Europe. He was cliosen president of the Anjerican Association of Geologists in 1840; and was an originator and founder of Mt. Holyoke seminary, and of the Massachusetts Agricultural society. Through his efforts, a chair of geology and natural theology was endowed in Amherst college, with the understanding that the science should always be taught from a religious stand- point. He received the honorary degrees of A.M. from Yale in 1818. LL.D. from Harvard in 1840, and D.D. from Middlebury in 1846. Among his published works are: The Dovmfall of Bonaparte (1815); Geology of the Connecticut Valley (1823); Dyspepsia Forestalled and Resisted (1830); A Wreath from the J'o?<<&(1838); Elementary Geology (1840-60); History of a Zoological Temp)erance Coil- vention held in Central Africa {\%~iO); Religious Letters on the Pecidiar Phenomena of the Four Seasons (1850); Religion of Geology and its Con- nected Sciences (1851); Tlte Poirer of Christian Benevolence (1852); Religious Truths Illustrated from Science (1857); Reminiscences of Amherst College (1863). Among his reports are: Eco- nomic Geology (1832): The Geology, Mineralogy, Botany, and Zoology of Massachusetts (1832); Re- examinations of the Economiccd Geology of Ifassacluisetts (1838); Geology of Massachusetts, four parts (1841); Geology of Vermont (1861). He died in Amhorst. Mass., Feb. 27, 1864.

HITCHCOCK, Edward, educator, was born in Amherst, Mass., May 23. 1828; son of the Rev. Edward and Orra (White) Hitchcock, andgrand- .son of Justin and Mercy (Hoyt) Hitchcock and of Jarib White, of Amherst. He was prepared for college at Williston seminary, was graduated from Amherst in 1849, and from the Harvard Medical .school in 1853. He was teacher of chemistrj' and natural history in Williston sem- inary. 1853-61, and professor of hygiene and physical education at Amherst from 1861. He aided his father in the state geological survey of Vermont in 1861. and in the i)re])aration of the report. He was elected a trustee of Mount Holyoke college and of Clark Institute for the Blind, and was president of the American Associa- tion for the Advancement of Physical Culture, besides holding several offices in meilical soci- eties. He was married in 1^54 to Mary, daughter