Joseph Ellison Portlock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Ellison Portlock
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| Born | 30 September 1794 Gosport |
| Died | 14 February 1864 (aged 69) Dublin |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Ordnance Survey |
| Years of service | 1813–1857 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Battles/wars | Siege of Fort-Erie, 1814 |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society |
Joseph Ellison Portlock (born September 30, 1794 – died February 14, 1864) was an important British geologist and soldier. He was born in Gosport, England. He is best known for his work mapping Ireland and studying its rocks and land.
Contents
Who Was Joseph Portlock?
Joseph Portlock was a Major-General in the British Army. He was also a skilled geologist, someone who studies the Earth's rocks and soil. His father, Nathaniel Portlock, was a captain in the Royal Navy.
Early Life and Military Career
Joseph went to Blundell's School and the Royal Military Academy. In 1813, he joined the Royal Engineers. This is a special part of the army that deals with building and engineering.
In 1814, he helped with military operations in Canada. Later, in 1824, he was chosen for a big project. This was the Ordnance Survey of Ireland.
Mapping Ireland
The Ordnance Survey was a huge project to map all of Ireland. Joseph Portlock worked on the mapping part for many years. He also collected information about Ireland's land, rocks, and natural resources. He wrote important parts of a book about Ireland's economy.
Setting Up a Research Office
In 1837, Joseph set up a special office in Belfast. This office focused on geology and statistics. He also created a museum for rock and animal samples. There was even a lab to study different types of soil.
His main work from this time was a detailed book. It was called Report on the Geology of the County of Londonderry. This book was published in 1843. It had many drawings and was a very important study of the area's geology.
Later Life and Achievements
After his work in Ireland, Joseph served in Corfu and Portsmouth. In 1849, he became the Commanding Royal Engineer in Cork. From 1851 to 1856, he taught at the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich.
Joseph Portlock wrote many papers about geology. He shared his findings with scientific groups in Dublin. He also wrote a book about geology in 1848. He was even the president of the Geological Society of London from 1856 to 1858.
In 1837, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists. Joseph Ellison Portlock passed away in Dublin on February 14, 1864.
Family Life
Joseph Portlock was married twice. His first wife was Julia Browne. They married in Ireland in 1831. His second wife was Fanny Turner. They married in Cork, Ireland, in 1849. Fanny was the daughter of Major General Charles Turner. Joseph did not have any children from either marriage.
