E. G. Squier
E. G. Squier was a prominent 19th-century journalist, archaeologist, and diplomat who significantly contributed to the understanding of ancient American cultures. Born in Bethlehem, New York, he grew up on a family farm, where he largely educated himself through independent reading. Squier initially pursued a career in law but transitioned to journalism, becoming the editor of several publications and advocating for the rights of the working class. His interest in the Indian mounds of the Mississippi Valley led to the collaboration on the influential work "Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley," which established him as a leading archaeologist.
Squier's diplomatic career included a notable appointment as the United States Charge d'Affaires to Central America, where he negotiated important treaties and conducted further archaeological studies. He authored several travel and exploration books, most notably focusing on Nicaragua and Peru. Later in life, Squier faced mental health challenges, leading to his institutionalization before his death in 1888 in Brooklyn, New York. His legacy remains notable in the fields of archaeology and journalism, reflecting a complex life dedicated to exploration and advocacy.
On this Page
Subject Terms
E. G. Squier
Archaeologist
- Born: June 17, 1821
- Birthplace: Bethlehem, New York
- Died: April 17, 1888
- Place of death: Brooklyn, New York
Biography
E. G. Squier, a nineteenth century journalist, archeologist, and diplomat, was born in Bethlehem, New York. His parents were Joel Squier, a Methodist minister, and Catherine Kulmer Squier. Squier spent his childhood on his family’s farm. Although he periodically attended school, he acquired most of his education through independent reading, which he accomplished while taking breaks from his farm chores. Influenced by the hardships he witnessed during the financial panic of 1837, Squier pursued an education in law with the hope of obtaining a high-paying job. In order to pay for his education, he began working part-time at a local paper.
Soon, Squier’s focus turned to journalism. In 1840, he abandoned his law education and became editor of the Literary Pearl of Charlton, New York. At this time, Squier began advocating for the rights of the working class. In 1841, he relocated to Albany, New York, where he worked for the Union magazine titled the New York State Mechanic. However, this publication failed in 1843, and Squier moved to Connecticut where he edited the Whig Daily Journal of Hartford. He became a state organizer for the Whig party and a supporter of Henry Clay in the 1844 presidential election. When Clay failed to win the presidency, the Whig Daily Journal was sold and Squier lost his editing job.
Squier found new employment in Chillicothe, Ohio, as an editor of the Scioto Gazette. He remained in this position until 1847, when he was elected as clerk of the Ohio House of Representatives. While in Ohio, Squier became interested in the Indian mounds of the Mississippi Valley. He spent most of his free time researching these mounds. In collaboration with Dr. Edward Hamilton Davies, he published Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley. This publication was successful and initiated a new career for Squier. He became known as one of the nation’s leading archeologists and scholars for antiquities.
In the mid-1800’s, Squier finagled a diplomatic appointment to Central America, where he spent his spare time studying the aboriginal ruins. In 1849, he received a two-year appointment as the United States Charge d’Affaires to Central America. During these two years, Squier negotiated several diplomatic agreements between the United States and Central American countries, including the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty and the construction of an interoceanic canal. After completing his diplomatic term, Squier began publishing books on his archeological endeavors in Central America. His most-noted works were titled Nicaragua: Its People, Scenery, Monuments and The States of Central America.
In his later years, Squier pursued numerous activities. He served as secretary of the Honduras Inter-Oceanic Railway Company and worked as chief editor of Frank Leslie’s Weekly. In 1862, Squier was appointed by President Lincoln as a United States Commissioner in Peru, where he wrote his work titled Peru: Incidents of Travel and Exploration in the Land of the Incas. In his final years, Squier developed a mental illness. In 1874, he was declared insane and institutionalized. In 1888, Squier died in Brooklyn, New York, at the age of sixty-seven.