Francis Bain
Encyclopedia
Francis Bain was an author
, scientist
and farmer
from North River, Prince Edward Island
.
In 1865, in his time away from managing his family farm, he began a career as an amateur naturalist, collecting and cataloging the flora, fauna, and seashells of the island. He was especially interested in geology
, and became an expert on the bedrock and fossils of PEI. In an 1882 study, he found that it would be possible to dig a tunnel under the Northumberland Strait, fulfilling the federal government's commitment made when PEI entered Confederation
, that constant communication with the mainland be provided. He would later be hired by the federal government to do a more in-depth investigation of the idea, although it was never carried out.
In 1883 Bain identified a fossil as Bathygnathus borealis
, in the first recognised dinosaur find in Canada (although the species has since been reclassified as a pelycosaur
, not a dinosaur). The fossil was recovered when a Spring Brook farmer was digging a well at his home in the New London area. The find was confirmed by geologist John William Dawson
who later named the fern Tylodendron baini in Bain's honour.
Bain wrote on natural history
in a column in the Daily Examiner, as well as publishing many papers in scholarly journals. He authored two books The natural history of Prince Edward Island (1890) and Birds of Prince Edward Island (1891).
A monument in his honour is located in Queens Square in Charlottetown
, incorporating a glacial erratic
hauled to the site.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
and farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
from North River, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
.
In 1865, in his time away from managing his family farm, he began a career as an amateur naturalist, collecting and cataloging the flora, fauna, and seashells of the island. He was especially interested in geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, and became an expert on the bedrock and fossils of PEI. In an 1882 study, he found that it would be possible to dig a tunnel under the Northumberland Strait, fulfilling the federal government's commitment made when PEI entered Confederation
Canadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
, that constant communication with the mainland be provided. He would later be hired by the federal government to do a more in-depth investigation of the idea, although it was never carried out.
In 1883 Bain identified a fossil as Bathygnathus borealis
Bathygnathus
Bathygnathus was a pelycosaur-grade synapsid, a non-dinosaurian amniote which lived during the Permian Period . The only specimen of Bathygnathus was discovered on Prince Edward Island during the course of a well excavation, in Spring Brook in the New London area and its significance recognized by...
, in the first recognised dinosaur find in Canada (although the species has since been reclassified as a pelycosaur
Pelycosaur
The pelycosaurs are an informal grouping composed of basal or primitive Late Paleozoic synapsid amniotes. Some species were quite large and could grow up to 3 meters or more, although most species were much smaller...
, not a dinosaur). The fossil was recovered when a Spring Brook farmer was digging a well at his home in the New London area. The find was confirmed by geologist John William Dawson
John William Dawson
Sir John William Dawson, CMG, FRS, FRSC , was a Canadian geologist and university administrator.- Life and work :...
who later named the fern Tylodendron baini in Bain's honour.
Bain wrote on natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
in a column in the Daily Examiner, as well as publishing many papers in scholarly journals. He authored two books The natural history of Prince Edward Island (1890) and Birds of Prince Edward Island (1891).
A monument in his honour is located in Queens Square in Charlottetown
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, incorporating a glacial erratic
Glacial erratic
A glacial erratic is a piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests. "Erratics" take their name from the Latin word errare, and are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundreds of kilometres...
hauled to the site.