Clarence King
Clarence King was a prominent 19th-century American geologist, born in 1842 in Newport, Rhode Island. His early interest in geology was sparked by a magnifying glass gifted by his mother, leading him to discover fossils at a young age. After studying at the Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University, he developed a passion for exploration and nature, which he shared with a friend by founding The Society for the Advancement of Truth in Art. King's significant contributions to geology began with his work in the California Geological Survey, where he conducted important surveys of the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite. He is best known for leading the fortieth parallel survey, a decade-long project that solidified his reputation as a leading geologist. King later served as the first director of the United States Geological Survey for two years before retiring to work as a mining engineer. Despite his earlier successes, he faced personal and financial difficulties later in life, including a secret marriage to an African American woman, Ada, which was influenced by societal pressures. King passed away in 1901 at the age of fifty-nine, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of earth science.
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Clarence King
Geologist
- Born: January 6, 1842
- Birthplace: Newport, Rhode Island
- Died: December 24, 1901
- Place of death: Phoenix, Arizona
Biography
Clarence King, a nineteenth century geologist, was born in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1842. His father, James King, was part owner of the King and Talbot Trading Company, which specialized in trade with China. King’s father died in 1848, when King was six years old, and he and his mother moved to an uncle’s farm in Connecticut.
King’s interest in geology began at age seven when his mother gave him a magnifying glass for his birthday. Soon afterwards, he used his magnifying glass to discover his first fossil. This discovery sparked a childhood obsession with geology nurtured by his mother’s nightly readings from Hitchcock’s Geology.
When King was thirteen, his mother moved to Hartford, Connecticut, to enroll King at Sheffield Scientific School at Yale University. King prospered at this school. He was greatly influenced by his professor, James Dwight Dana, a geologist who participated in the Overland Expedition to Mount Shasta in California. King graduated from Sheffield Scientific School in 1862.
While in Connecticut, King became friends with Ted Gardiner. Both shared a love of nature and a thirst for exploration. Together they founded The Society for the Advancement of Truth in Art. The purpose of this society was to create internal truth by remaining faithful to nature. King firmly held to this purpose throughout his life.
In 1863, King and Gardiner moved to California, where King volunteered as an assistant in the California Geological Survey. While in California, he made several important geographical finds, including the determination of the age of the Sierra NevadaMountains, and a survey of Yosemite. King documented his discoveries in his book Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada.
While in California, King conceived the idea of his most famous expedition—a survey of the fortieth parallel. In 1867, Congress financed this expedition and made King the leader of the survey. King’s work on the fortieth parallel would last ten years and establish him as one of the best geologists in American history. Following the success of his fortieth parallel survey, King was appointed to be the first director of the United States Geological Survey. He held this position for only two years before retiring in 1881 to pursue private work as a mining engineer. This career decision would mark King’s personal and professional decline.
In 1888, King, under the assumed name of James Todd, married an African American woman named Ada. Due to the social pressures of the time, King and his wife maintained a secret marriage, including separate residences. The couple had five children.
After his marriage, King only published one more scientific work. This publication, The Age of the Earth, became an important study in the field of earth science. In his later years, King embarked on several unsuccessful mining endeavors. Financial debt and the pressures of leading a double life with his wife, Ada, contributed to his nervous breakdown and commitment to the Bloomingdale Asylum. He was eventually released but became ill with tuberculosis and died in 1901, at the age of fifty-nine.