James Terry Gardiner
Encyclopedia
James Terry Gardiner was an American surveyor and engineer.
Gardiner was born in Troy, New York
, the son of Daniel Gardiner and Ann Terry Gardiner. He briefly attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
and the Sheffield Scientific School
. In 1863 he traveled on horseback to California with his boyhood friend, Clarence King
. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he worked for the United States Engineer Corp as a civilian assistant and participated in the construction of fortifications at Black Point (now Fort Mason) and Angel Island.
In the spring of 1864 Gardiner joined the California Geological Survey under the leadership of Josiah Whitney
. His friend King was already working with the survey as a field geologist. That summer they participated in the first scientific survey of the Sierra Nevada high country. During the next few years he remained with the survey and traveled through much of California.
In 1867 Gardiner joined the Fortieth Parallel Survey
, led by King, and then joined the Hayden Survey in 1872 serving as chief topographer until 1876. Thereafter, Gardiner returned to New York where he was appointed director of the State Survey . From 1880 to 1886 he was also a member of the state board of health and was instrumental in establishing proper sewage systems throughout New York.
Meanwhile he became involved in the mining industry, writing a report on coal and iron in Colorado (1875); serving as vice-president of the coal companies belonging to the Erie Railroad; and becoming president of the Mexican Coke and Coal Company in 1899.
Gardiner married Josephine Rogers of Oakland, California in 1868. She died four years later and in 1881 he married Eliza Greene Doane of Albany, New York.
Mount Gardiner
in Kings Canyon National Park
was named in his honor by the California Geological Survey.
The family named had been spelled Gardiner until his father dropped the “i”. James used this form until mid-life when he returned to the earlier spelling.
Gardiner was born in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, the son of Daniel Gardiner and Ann Terry Gardiner. He briefly attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
and the Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
. In 1863 he traveled on horseback to California with his boyhood friend, Clarence King
Clarence King
Clarence R. King was an American geologist, mountaineer, and art critic. First director of the United States Geological Survey, from 1879 to 1881, King was noted for his exploration of the Sierra Nevada. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island.-Career:...
. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he worked for the United States Engineer Corp as a civilian assistant and participated in the construction of fortifications at Black Point (now Fort Mason) and Angel Island.
In the spring of 1864 Gardiner joined the California Geological Survey under the leadership of Josiah Whitney
Josiah Whitney
Josiah Dwight Whitney was an American geologist, professor of geology at Harvard University , and chief of the California Geological Survey...
. His friend King was already working with the survey as a field geologist. That summer they participated in the first scientific survey of the Sierra Nevada high country. During the next few years he remained with the survey and traveled through much of California.
In 1867 Gardiner joined the Fortieth Parallel Survey
Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel
The Geological Exploration of the Fortieth Parallel was a geological survey made by order of the Secretary of War according to acts of Congress of March 2,1867, and March 3, 1869, under the direction of Brig. and Bvt. Major General A. A. Humphreys, Chief of Engineers, by Clarence King, U. S....
, led by King, and then joined the Hayden Survey in 1872 serving as chief topographer until 1876. Thereafter, Gardiner returned to New York where he was appointed director of the State Survey . From 1880 to 1886 he was also a member of the state board of health and was instrumental in establishing proper sewage systems throughout New York.
Meanwhile he became involved in the mining industry, writing a report on coal and iron in Colorado (1875); serving as vice-president of the coal companies belonging to the Erie Railroad; and becoming president of the Mexican Coke and Coal Company in 1899.
Gardiner married Josephine Rogers of Oakland, California in 1868. She died four years later and in 1881 he married Eliza Greene Doane of Albany, New York.
Mount Gardiner
Mount Gardiner
Mount Gardiner is a ridge-like granitic mountain, 2,480 m, standing 3 nautical miles east of Mount Ruth and just south of the junction of Bartlett and Scott Glaciers, in the Queen Maud Mountains. Discovered in December 1934 by the Byrd Antarctic Expedition geological party under Quin Blackburn,...
in Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
was named in his honor by the California Geological Survey.
The family named had been spelled Gardiner until his father dropped the “i”. James used this form until mid-life when he returned to the earlier spelling.