William Phipps Blake
Encyclopedia
William Phipps Blake was an American
mineralogist and geologist. He was born in New York City
, graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School
at Yale
in 1852, one of seven to get the newly created Ph.B. degree. He was mineralogist and geologist
of the Pacific Railroad Exploring Expedition of 1853, and author of several of its reports. From 1856-1859, he investigated mineral resources in the area of North Carolina
. He edited the Mining Magazine (1859–1860). In 1861 traveled to Japan with another early Arizona geologist, Raphael Pumpelly
, to introduce western technology to the shogunate. In 1863, Blake returned to California
and was appointed professor of mineralogy in the College of California
and geologist to the California State Board of Agriculture.
In 1867 he was appointed as a commissioner representing California at the Exposition Universelle
(Paris Exposition). His report on the precious metals, forming one of the government volumes on the Paris exposition of 1867, is full of valuable information. He was the first to recognize the tellurides among the products of California, and was also the first to draw attention to the platinum metals associated with the gold-washings of that state.
In 1871, he was chief of the U.S. scientific corps that visited Santo Domingo
. Selected by the Smithsonian, he collected and installed the government exhibit on the mineral resources of the United States for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition
.
From 1896 to 1905 he was professor of geology and director of the School of Mines at the University of Arizona
. He died of exposure in Berkeley, California, four days after, and as a consequence of, receiving an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of California
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mineralogist and geologist. He was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, graduated from 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...
at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
in 1852, one of seven to get the newly created Ph.B. degree. He was mineralogist and 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...
of the Pacific Railroad Exploring Expedition of 1853, and author of several of its reports. From 1856-1859, he investigated mineral resources in the area of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He edited the Mining Magazine (1859–1860). In 1861 traveled to Japan with another early Arizona geologist, Raphael Pumpelly
Raphael Pumpelly
Raphael Pumpelly was an American geologist and explorer.-Early life and ancestors:He was born on September 8, 1837 in Oswego, New York, into a family with deep New England roots that trace back to Thomas Welles , who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 and was the only man in Connecticut's history to...
, to introduce western technology to the shogunate. In 1863, Blake returned to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was appointed professor of mineralogy in the College of California
College of California
The College of California was the predecessor of the University of California system of public universities. The private college was founded in 1855 by noted educator Dr. Samuel H. Willey...
and geologist to the California State Board of Agriculture.
In 1867 he was appointed as a commissioner representing California at the Exposition Universelle
Exposition Universelle (1867)
The Exposition Universelle of 1867 was a World Exposition held in Paris, France, in 1867.-Conception:In 1864, Emperor Napoleon III decreed that an international exposition should be held in Paris in 1867. A commission was appointed with Prince Jerome Napoleon as president, under whose direction...
(Paris Exposition). His report on the precious metals, forming one of the government volumes on the Paris exposition of 1867, is full of valuable information. He was the first to recognize the tellurides among the products of California, and was also the first to draw attention to the platinum metals associated with the gold-washings of that state.
In 1871, he was chief of the U.S. scientific corps that visited Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. Selected by the Smithsonian, he collected and installed the government exhibit on the mineral resources of the United States for the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
.
From 1896 to 1905 he was professor of geology and director of the School of Mines at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. He died of exposure in Berkeley, California, four days after, and as a consequence of, receiving an honorary LL.D. degree from the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
.
Publications
- Description of the fossils and shells collected in California (1855)
- Silver Ores and Silver Mines (1860)
- Report on the Production of Precious Metals (1867)
- Civil Engineering and Public Works (1870)
- Report on iron and steel (1876)
- Ceramic Art and Glass (1878)
- Tombstone and its Mines (1902)
- The published writings of William Phipps Blake (1910)
- The Imperial Valley and the Salton Sink with Harry Thomas CoryHarry Thomas CoryHarry Thomas Cory was an American engineer and professor. He was born in Lafayette, Indiana, the son of Thomas and Carrie Cory....
(1915)