The Biographical Dictionary of America/Ashburner, Charles Albert

ASHBURNER, Charles Albert, geologist, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 9, 1854, son of Algernon Eyre and Sarah (Blakiston) Ashburner. He entered the Towne scientific school of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of sixteen, and was graduated in 1874 at the head of his class. In 1872, while yet an undergraduate, he assisted in the survey on the Delaware river, and in 1873 was one of the organizers of the engineers' club of Philadelphia. He was appointed on the U. S. light-house service survey in Pennsylvania, and from 1875 to 1879 was assistant geologist in the Pennsylvania surveys. In 1880 he accepted the position of geologist in charge of the survey of anthracite coal fields, and successfully conducted the work until 1887. After leaving the Pennsylvania survey Mr. Ashburner went to Pittsburg as engineer and geologist with the Fuel Gas and Electric Engine company, and continued with this company as an adviser during the rest of his life. In September, 1888, he was elected manager of the New York and Montana mining and milling company, and in December, 1889, was made vice-president and general manager of the Duquesne mining and reduction company, for which he had purchased a large property in southern Arizona the previous year. He made private surveys in Nova Scotia, Quebec, and in the middle, western and southern states, and published works of great geological value. The more important titles include: "The Anthracite Coal Beds of Pennsylvania" (1882); "Methods in Practical Geology" (1884); "The Geology of Natural Gas in Pennsylvania and New York" (1885); "The Geology of Natural Gas" (1887); and "American Petroleum" (1888). In 1877 the University of Pennsylvania conferred upon him the degree of M.Sc, and in 1889 that of D.Sc. He was an active member of the American philosophical society, the American institute of mining engineers, the Philadelphia academy of natural sciences, the American association for the advancement of science, the American society of naturalists, and the engineers' club of Philadelphia. He died Dec. 24, 1889.