Dana, James Dwight (1813-1895)
American geologist and educator, was born at Utica, New York, and was graduated from Yale, 1833. From 1838 to 1842, he was a member of the Wilkes exploring expedition, sent out by the United States government. His collections, chiefly from little-known parts of the Pacific Ocean, were so extensive that he devoted almost 13 years to their study and described nearly 900 new species of marine life. In recognition of his important service to science, he was made professor of natural history at Yale and occupied he chair with distinction from 1855 to 1890.
Dana possessed a vivid scientific imagination and remarkable keenness of perception and analysis. His discussions of continents, mountain building, and volcanoes established his position among the most eminent scientists of the 19th century. He was an inspiring instructor and author of numerous scientific works, including A System of Mineralogy, Manual of Geology, Corals and Coral Islands, and The Geological Story Briefly Told.
~ The Lincoln Library of Essential Information, Volume 2, Thirty-Fifth Edition, 1972, Biography, Page 1780.
You can visit the memorial page for James Dwight Dana.
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