George William Featherstonhaugh
| George Featherstonhaugh | |
|---|---|
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| Born |
George William Featherstonhaugh 9 April 1780 London, England |
| Died | 28 September 1866 (aged 86) Le Havre, France |
| Resting place | Tunbridge Wells, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Farmer, Geologist and Surveyor |
| Known for | Explorer and Railway Pioneer |
| Spouse(s) | Sarah Duane (1808-11-06 – 1826), Charlotte Williams Carter (m. 1831-01-28) |
| Children | By Sarah: James, Ann d1826, George, Jr., and Georgianna d1826, By Charlotte: Albany, Georgiannia, and Henry |
| Parent(s) | George and Dorothy Simpson Featherstonhaugh |
George William Featherstonhaugh FRS /ˈfænˌʃɔː/ (London, 9 April 1780 – Le Havre, 28 September 1866) was a British-American geologist and geographer. He was one of the proposers of the Albany and Schenectady Railroad and was the first geologist to the US government. He surveyed portions of the Louisiana Purchase for the US Government.
Born to George and Dorothy Simpson Featherstonhaugh in London, he grew up in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England. Featherstonhaugh liked climbing cliffs, collecting fossils, and gathering wild bird eggs to sell. He was adept at writing and became a Fellow of the Geological Society and the Royal Society.
In 1806 he went to the United States where he planned to study the languages of the indigenous people. He married Sarah Duane of Schenectady, New York, on 6 November 1808. They had four children: James, Ann, George Jr., and Georgianna. He farmed, organised the first New York Board of Agriculture, and advocated the building of steam railroads in the United States. Difficulty experienced in the economic transportation of his crops led Featherstonhaugh to advocate a steam railroad that would connect the Hudson River at Albany, New York with the navigable Mohawk River at Schenectady. His acquaintance with George Stephenson (1781–1848) facilitated his quest. Ten years were spent in an attempt to educate the public for the experiment and it was not until December 1825, that Featherstonhaugh was determined to apply for a charter. This was granted on 17 April 1826.
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