The New Student's Reference Work/Powell, John Wesley

Pow′ell, John Wesley, an American geologist and anthropologist, was born at Mount Morris, N. Y., March 24, 1834, and served through the Civil War, in which he rose to the rank of major. After holding a professorship in Illinois Wesleyan University for a number of years, in 1870 a survey of the Colorado and its tributaries was placed under his direction by act of Congress. His voyage through the canyon was a wonderful achievement. While engaged in this service he gave special attention to ethnology, and in 1879 was made director of the new bureau of ethnology; in 1881 he was also appointed director of the United States Geological Survey. Major Powell in 1886 received the doctorate of philosophy from Heidelberg and of laws from Harvard; and in 1887 he was president of the Association for the Advancement of Science. His works include Explorations of Colorado River; Lands of the Arid Region; Contributions to American Ethnology; and Outlines of the Philosophy of the Indians. He died on Sept. 23, 1902.