Hitchcock, Edward

Edward (1793-1864), an American geologist. He was born at Deerfield, Massachusetts, May 24, 1793, and died at Amberst, February 27, 1864. He began life as principal of an academy, and was for a time pastor of the Congregational church at Conway. His taste for chemistry and natural history, and the writing of a popular work entitled The Geology of the Connecticut Valley, secured him a chair in Amherst College. In 1845 he was made president and also professor of natural theology and geology, rather a remarkable combination. In the United States, at least, geology was in its infancy. He had a rich field, and won distinction among European scientists. His study of fossil footprints in the sandstones of the Connecticut Valley was regarded as a piece of fine work. His geological work has been continued ably by his son Charles Henry Hitchcock, now professor of geology in Dartmouth College.