George William Featherstonhaugh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George William Featherstonhaugh
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| Born | 9 April 1780 London, England
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| Died | 28 September 1866 (aged 86) |
| Resting place | Tunbridge Wells, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Farmer, geologist and surveyor |
| Known for | Explorer; railway pioneer |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Duane (1808-11-06 – 1826), Charlotte Williams Carter (m. 1831-01-28) |
| Children | By Sarah: James, Ann d1826, George, Jr., and Georgianna d1826; By Charlotte: Albany, Georgiannia, and Henry |
| Parent(s) | George and Dorothy Simpson Featherstonhaugh |
George William Featherstonhaugh (born April 9, 1780, in London – died September 28, 1866, in Le Havre) was a British-American geologist and geographer. A geologist studies the Earth's rocks and landforms. A geographer studies the Earth's features and how people live on it. He helped start the Albany and Schenectady Railroad. He was also the first geologist to work for the United States government. He explored parts of the Louisiana Purchase for the US government.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
George William Featherstonhaugh was born in London, England. He grew up in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. As a child, he loved climbing cliffs and collecting fossils. He also gathered wild bird eggs to sell. He was very good at writing. He became a member of important science groups. These included the Geological Society and the Royal Society. In 1809, he joined the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia.
Plans for Railroads
In 1806, Featherstonhaugh moved to the United States. He wanted to learn the languages of the Native American people. On November 6, 1808, he married Sarah Duane. She was from Schenectady, New York. They had four children: James, Ann, George Jr., and Georgianna.
He worked as a farmer and helped create the first New York Board of Agriculture. He strongly believed that steam railroads should be built in the United States. It was hard for him to move his crops to market. This made him want a steam railroad. It would connect the Hudson River at Albany, New York, to the Mohawk River at Schenectady. He knew George Stephenson, who built early steam engines. This helped him with his goal.
He spent ten years trying to convince people about the idea. Finally, in December 1825, he decided to ask for official permission. This permission was given on April 17, 1826.
The painter Thomas Cole stayed at Featherstonhaugh's home in 1825–1826. He painted views of the house and land.
After his wife and two daughters died, and a big fire, Featherstonhaugh sold his home. It was in Duanesburg. Later, he moved to Philadelphia. On January 28, 1831, he married Charlotte Williams Carter. They had three children: Albany, Georgiannia, and Henry.
Building the railroad started on July 29, 1830. One year later, the track was finished. It ran from Schenectady to Albany. The railroad officially opened on August 13, 1831. The DeWitt Clinton pulled the first train to Schenectady.
The Albany and Schenectady Railroad proved Featherstonhaugh's idea was right. It made the Mohawk Valley a key area for early railroad building in New York State. In 1832, the Saratoga and Schenectady Rail Road was also completed.
In July 1831, Featherstonhaugh published a science journal. It was called the Monthly American Journal of Geology and Natural Science. Only one edition was ever made.
Exploring the Louisiana Purchase
In 1803, the US government bought a huge amount of land. This was known as the Louisiana Purchase. The government wanted to find out what natural resources were there. In 1834, Featherstonhaugh was named the first US government geologist. He was asked to study the land between the Missouri and Red rivers. He had to report his findings to Colonel John James Abert.
He started his exploration of Arkansas from St. Louis, Missouri. His son, George Jr., helped him as an assistant.
Among the Cherokees
In 1835, Featherstonhaugh traveled through several states. He went from Green Bay, Wisconsin, down the Fox River to the Wisconsin River. Then he went to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and into the Mississippi River. He paddled up the Mississippi, past the St. Croix River and the Minnesota River. He stopped at Carver's Cave and Saint Anthony Falls.
In August 1837, Featherstonhaugh joined a government agent. They went to a meeting of the Cherokee Nation in Red Clay, Tennessee. This was during a difficult time for the Cherokee people. It eventually led to their forced move, known as the "Trail of Tears". He stayed with the Cherokee people for over a month. He saw their leaders, like Chief John Ross, resist the Treaty of New Echota. This treaty was unfair to the Cherokee.
Featherstonhaugh's public reason for visiting was to study the geology of Georgia and North Carolina. Gold had been found there. He also had a secret task. He met a Welsh missionary named Rev. Evan Jones. Featherstonhaugh later wrote that Jones was a "cunning character." He suggested that Jones should be removed from the Cherokee Nation. This was because he thought Jones might give them "bad advice."
In 1837, the sculptor Hiram Powers made a sculpture of Featherstonhaugh. Powers thought he had a "fine head."
Return to England
Featherstonhaugh went back to England in 1838 with his family. Because he knew so much about the United States, the British government gave him an important job. He was a commissioner to help decide the northern border of the United States. This was part of the Webster–Ashburton Treaty.
After successfully completing this job, he became a British consul in France. A consul is an official who protects the interests of their country's citizens abroad. When Louis Napoleon took power in France, Featherstonhaugh helped the King and Queen of France escape. He helped them get to England through Le Havre. The British government and Queen Victoria were very pleased.
Later in his life, he spent a lot of time writing. He published journals about his travels in the United States. He died in Le Havre, France, on September 28, 1866. He is buried in Tunbridge Wells, England.
Family Life
His son, George W. Featherstonhaugh, Jr., became a businessman in Wisconsin. He also served in the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature from 1846 to 1848.
His Published Works
- Cicero, The Republic of Cicero, a translation – New York, 1828
- Manzoni, "The Betrothed," a translation – London, 1834
- Report of a Geological Reconnaissance made in 1835 from the Seat of Government by the way of Green Bay and the Wisconsin Territory to the Coteau du Prairie, an Elevated Ridge Dividing the Missouri from the Saint Peters River – 1836
- Observations on the Ashburton Treaty – London, 1842
- Excursion Through the Slave States – New York, 1844
- A Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor (2 volumes) – London, 1847
See also
In Spanish: George William Featherstonhaugh para niños
