Fielding Bradford Meek
Encyclopedia
Fielding Bradford Meek (December 10, 1817 – December 22, 1876) was an American
geologist
and paleontologist.
The son of a lawyer, he was born in Madison, Indiana
. In early life he was in business as a merchant, but his leisure hours were devoted to collecting fossil
s and studying the rocks of the neighborhood of Madison. Being unsuccessful in business he turned his whole attention to science, and in 1848 he gained employment on the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories
in Iowa
, and subsequently in Wisconsin
and Minnesota
. In 1852 he became assistant to Professor James Hall
at Albany, New York
, and worked at palaeontology with him until 1858. Meanwhile in 1853 he accompanied Dr FV Hayden
in an exploration of the badlands
of Dakota
and brought back valuable collections of fossils.
In 1858 he went to Washington, D.C.
, where he devoted his time to the palaeontological work of the United States geological and geographical surveys, his work bearing the stamp of the most faithful and conscientious research, and raising him to the highest rank as a palaeontologist. About this time, both he and Hayden joined the Megatherium Club
at the Smithsonian Institution.
Besides many separate contributions to science he prepared with WM Gabb
(1839-1878), two volumes or the palaeontology of California (1864-1869); and also a Report on the Invertebrate Cretaceous and Tertiary Fossils of the Upper Missouri Country (1876). He died of tuberculosis
at Washington in 1876.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and paleontologist.
The son of a lawyer, he was born in Madison, Indiana
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
. In early life he was in business as a merchant, but his leisure hours were devoted to collecting fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s and studying the rocks of the neighborhood of Madison. Being unsuccessful in business he turned his whole attention to science, and in 1848 he gained employment on the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories
United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories
The United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories was established by an act of Congress on 2 March, 1867 as an agency under the Department of the Interior tasked to complete a geographical survey of the State of Nebraska which had been admitted to the Union the day before...
in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and subsequently in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. In 1852 he became assistant to Professor James Hall
James Hall (paleontologist)
James Hall was an American geologist and paleontologist. He was a noted authority on stratigraphy and had an influential role in the development of American paleontology.-Early life:...
at Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, and worked at palaeontology with him until 1858. Meanwhile in 1853 he accompanied Dr FV Hayden
Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden
Dr. Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden was an American geologist noted for his pioneering surveying expeditions of the Rocky Mountains in the late 19th century. He was also a physician who served with the Union Army during the Civil War.-Early life:Ferdinand Hayden was born in Westfield, Massachusetts...
in an exploration of the badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
of Dakota
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
and brought back valuable collections of fossils.
In 1858 he went to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he devoted his time to the palaeontological work of the United States geological and geographical surveys, his work bearing the stamp of the most faithful and conscientious research, and raising him to the highest rank as a palaeontologist. About this time, both he and Hayden joined the Megatherium Club
Megatherium Club
The Megatherium Club was founded by William Stimpson. It was a group of Washington, D.C.-based scientists who were attracted to that city by the Smithsonian Institution's rapidly growing collection, from 1857 to 1866....
at the Smithsonian Institution.
Besides many separate contributions to science he prepared with WM Gabb
William More Gabb
William More Gabb was an American paleontologist.Gabb was born and educated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the leading center of American science at the time. He graduated from Jefferson Grammar School at age thirteen and was admitted to the prestigious Central High School of Philadelphia...
(1839-1878), two volumes or the palaeontology of California (1864-1869); and also a Report on the Invertebrate Cretaceous and Tertiary Fossils of the Upper Missouri Country (1876). He died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
at Washington in 1876.
External links
- Works by Fielding Bradford Meek at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Fielding B. Meek Papers at the Smithsonian Institution Archives