William Austin Burt
William Austin Burt | |
---|---|
Born | William Austin Burt June 13, 1792 Petersham, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Died | August 18, 1858 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 66)
Resting place | Elmwood Cemetery, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Occupation | Surveyor |
Employer | United States government |
Known for |
|
Title | Hon. Wm. A. Burt |
Political party | Jeffersonian Republican |
Spouse | Phoebe Cole |
Children | 5 sons |
Signature | |
William Austin Burt (June 13, 1792 – August 18, 1858) was an American
.Burt was born in
Detroit, where he died a year later.[2]
Among Burt's numerous inventions were the
minerals that would interfere with accurate readings when using ordinary instruments. While out surveying on September 19, 1844, in what is today Marquette County, Michigan, Burt discovered one of the largest iron ore deposits in the United States.[4] His solar compass and adaptations of it became standard instruments for the government land survey in much of the western US, and were used until GPS was available in the late 20th century. A historical plaque commemorates Burt at Stony Creek
, near his home in Mt. Vernon, Michigan.
He was awarded the
The Franklin Institute
in 1834.
See also
- Thomas Hall (mechanic) – invented the first portable typewriter.
References
- ^ Tuttle, Charles Richard (1873). General History of the State of Michigan, pp. 515–518. Detroit: R.D.S. Tyler & Co.
- ^ Tuttle (1873), p. 523.
- ^ Martin, John Bartlow (1986). Call It North Country: The Story of Upper Michigan, p. 47. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 081431869X.
- ^ Tuttle (1873), p. 520.
Sources
- Adler, Michael H. (1973). The Writing Machine: A History of the Typewriter. George Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0-04-652004-X.
- Bingham, Stephen (1924). Michigan Biographies. Michigan Historical Commission.
- Bonior, David E. (2001). Walking to Mackinac. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 978-0472-08797-6.
- Cutter, William Richard (1913). New England Family Genealogical and Memorial. Lewis Historical Publishing.
- Fuller, George Newman (1922). Michigan History. Vol. 6. Michigan Department of State. OCLC 983255566.
- Hannan, Caryn (2008). Michigan Encyclopedia. State History Publications. ISBN 978-1878592941.
- Kidder, Harry M. (1920). Transactions of New York Shorthand Reporters of December 28, 1920. Boyd Printing. OCLC 7772514.
- Smart, Charles E. (1962). The Makers of Surveying Instruments in America Since 1700 (PDF). Martino Publishing. ISBN 978-15789-8488-6.
- Traver, Robert (2014). Laughing Whitefish. Michigan State University Press. ISBN 978-16091-7219-0.
- Tuttle, Charles Richard (1873). General History of Michigan Biographical Sketches. R. D. S. Tyler & Company. OCLC 646929780.
- Vrooman, John Wright (1923). The Story of the Typewriter, 1873–1923. Press of A. H. Kellogg Company. OCLC 936927259.
- University of Michigan, Board of Regents (1906). Proceedings of Board of Regents. University of Michigan. OCLC 904199723.
- White, James T. (1922). Cyclopedia of American Biography. Vol. 18. J. T. White. OCLC 164589128.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Austin Burt.