Thomas Chamberlin
Encyclopedia
Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin (September 25, 1843 – November 15, 1928) was an influential American
geologist
and educator. In 1893 he founded the Journal of Geology, of which he was editor for many years.
. When he was three years old his family moved north to near Beloit, Wisconsin
. His father was a Methodist circuit minister and farmer. He attended a preparatory academy before entering Beloit College
, where he received a classical education in Greek
and Latin
, while becoming interested in natural science. While a student at Beloit he directed a church choir and participated in athletics and debate.
After graduation from Beloit College
in 1866, Chamberlin worked for two years as a teacher and later principal in a high school near Beloit. He was married to Alma Wilson in 1867.
In 1868–1869, Chamberlin spent a year taking graduate courses, including geology, at the University of Michigan
to strengthen his scientific background. Subsequently (1869–1873) he became professor of natural science at the State Normal School in Whitewater, Wisconsin
. He joined the Beloit faculty in 1873, where he was professor of geology, zoology
, and botany
. In 1873 he also became one of several part-time participants in conducting a comprehensive geological survey of Wisconsin
. His geologic map
ping work in southeastern Wisconsin, a region mantled with thick glacial deposits, led him to recognize multiple episodes of glaciation during the Pleistocene
. His terminology for glacial stages in North America
is still in use, with minor modifications.
In 1876 Chamberlin became chief geologist for the Wisconsin geological survey, supervising the completion of the survey and the publication of the four-volume report, for which he authored sections on glacial deposits, Paleozoic
and Precambrian
bedrock
geology, lead-zinc ore deposits
, artesian wells, and soil
s. The project brought him national attention and led to his appointment as head of the glacial division of the US Geological Survey in 1881. He later was president of the University of Wisconsin
(1887–1892).
In 1892 he accepted the offer to organize a department of geology at the new University of Chicago
, where he remained as a professor until 1918). From 1898 to 1914 he was president of the Chicago Academy of Sciences.
In 1905, Chamberlin and Forest Ray Moulton
developed a theory of the formation of the solar system
that challenged the Laplacian
nebular hypothesis. Their theory, the Chamberlin-Moulton planetesimal hypothesis
, received favorable support for almost a third of a century, but passed out of favor by the late 1930s. It ultimately was discarded in the 1940s by the realization it was incompatible with the angular momentum
of Jupiter
. A portion of the theory stating that smaller objects — planetesimal
s — gradually collided to build the planets by accretion is still well-regarded. From his theories and other geological evidence he concluded that Earth was much older than assumed by Lord Kelvin (ca 100 million years) at the time.
Chamberlin remained active professionally up until his death in Chicago on November 15, 1928.
His papers are housed at the University of Chicago archives and the Beloit College archives. The Beloit College archives also contain the papers of his son, Rollin T. Chamberlin, who was also a geologist. There are buildings named for him on the Beloit College and University of Wisconsin–Madison campuses. The lunar crater Chamberlin
and a crater
on Mars
are named in his honor.
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 educator. In 1893 he founded the Journal of Geology, of which he was editor for many years.
Biography
Chamberlin was born September 25, 1843 in Mattoon, IllinoisMattoon, Illinois
Mattoon is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,555 as of the 2010 census. It is a principal city of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.Mattoon was the site of the "Mad Gasser" attacks of the 1940s....
. When he was three years old his family moved north to near Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit, Wisconsin
Beloit is a city in Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. As of the 2010 census, Beloit had a population of 36,966. The greater Beloit area is home to more than 91,000 residents.-Claim to fame:...
. His father was a Methodist circuit minister and farmer. He attended a preparatory academy before entering Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
, where he received a classical education in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, while becoming interested in natural science. While a student at Beloit he directed a church choir and participated in athletics and debate.
After graduation from Beloit College
Beloit College
Beloit College is a liberal arts college in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA. It is a member of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, and has an enrollment of roughly 1,300 undergraduate students. Beloit is the oldest continuously operated college in Wisconsin, and has the oldest building of any college...
in 1866, Chamberlin worked for two years as a teacher and later principal in a high school near Beloit. He was married to Alma Wilson in 1867.
In 1868–1869, Chamberlin spent a year taking graduate courses, including geology, at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
to strengthen his scientific background. Subsequently (1869–1873) he became professor of natural science at the State Normal School in Whitewater, Wisconsin
Whitewater, Wisconsin
Whitewater is a city in Jefferson and Walworth Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located near the southern portion of the Kettle Moraine State Forest, Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.-Geography:...
. He joined the Beloit faculty in 1873, where he was professor of geology, zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
, and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
. In 1873 he also became one of several part-time participants in conducting a comprehensive geological survey of 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...
. His geologic map
Geologic map
A geologic map or geological map is a special-purpose map made to show geological features. Rock units or geologic strata are shown by color or symbols to indicate where they are exposed at the surface...
ping work in southeastern Wisconsin, a region mantled with thick glacial deposits, led him to recognize multiple episodes of glaciation during the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
. His terminology for glacial stages in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
is still in use, with minor modifications.
In 1876 Chamberlin became chief geologist for the Wisconsin geological survey, supervising the completion of the survey and the publication of the four-volume report, for which he authored sections on glacial deposits, Paleozoic
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
and Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
bedrock
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
geology, lead-zinc ore deposits
Carbonate hosted lead zinc ore deposits
Carbonate-hosted lead-zinc ore deposits are important and highly valuable concentrations of lead and zinc sulfide ores hosted within carbonate formations and which share a common genetic origin....
, artesian wells, and soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s. The project brought him national attention and led to his appointment as head of the glacial division of the US Geological Survey in 1881. He later was president of the University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
(1887–1892).
In 1892 he accepted the offer to organize a department of geology at the new University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he remained as a professor until 1918). From 1898 to 1914 he was president of the Chicago Academy of Sciences.
In 1905, Chamberlin and Forest Ray Moulton
Forest Ray Moulton
Forest Ray Moulton was an American astronomer.He was born in Le Roy, Michigan, and was educated at Albion College. After graduating in 1894 , he performed his graduate studies at the University of Chicago and gained a Ph.D. in 1899...
developed a theory of the formation of the solar system
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
that challenged the Laplacian
Pierre-Simon Laplace
Pierre-Simon, marquis de Laplace was a French mathematician and astronomer whose work was pivotal to the development of mathematical astronomy and statistics. He summarized and extended the work of his predecessors in his five volume Mécanique Céleste...
nebular hypothesis. Their theory, the Chamberlin-Moulton planetesimal hypothesis
Chamberlin-Moulton planetesimal hypothesis
The Chamberlin–Moulton planetesimal hypothesis was proposed in 1905 by geologist Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin and astronomer Forest Ray Moulton to describe the formation of the solar system...
, received favorable support for almost a third of a century, but passed out of favor by the late 1930s. It ultimately was discarded in the 1940s by the realization it was incompatible with the angular momentum
Angular momentum
In physics, angular momentum, moment of momentum, or rotational momentum is a conserved vector quantity that can be used to describe the overall state of a physical system...
of Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
. A portion of the theory stating that smaller objects — planetesimal
Planetesimal
Planetesimals are solid objects thought to exist in protoplanetary disks and in debris disks.A widely accepted theory of planet formation, the so-called planetesimal hypothesis of Viktor Safronov, states that planets form out of cosmic dust grains that collide and stick to form larger and larger...
s — gradually collided to build the planets by accretion is still well-regarded. From his theories and other geological evidence he concluded that Earth was much older than assumed by Lord Kelvin (ca 100 million years) at the time.
Chamberlin remained active professionally up until his death in Chicago on November 15, 1928.
His papers are housed at the University of Chicago archives and the Beloit College archives. The Beloit College archives also contain the papers of his son, Rollin T. Chamberlin, who was also a geologist. There are buildings named for him on the Beloit College and University of Wisconsin–Madison campuses. The lunar crater Chamberlin
Chamberlin (lunar crater)
Chamberlin is a lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon, just past the southeastern limb. It lies to the southeast of the crater Jeans, and Moulton is attached to the southeastern rim of Chamberlin...
and a crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
are named in his honor.
External links
- Biography by James S. Aber
- T.C. Chamberlin, The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses (PDF format)
- T. C. Chamberlin's "Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses": An encapsulation for modern students, by L. Bruce Railsback
- T.C. Chamberlin's "The Method of Multiple Working Hypotheses" as reprinted by Access Excellence with a commentary by Thomas M. Zinnen
- Chamberlin holdings at Beloit College Archives
- Expedition photographs from Beloit College Digital Collections