Back to list

Douglass Houghton

Born: 09/21/1809   Troy
Died: 02/03/1845
Parents: Jacob Houghton, Mary Lydia (Douglass) Houghton
Spouse: Harriet Stevens
Children: Harriet; Mary; Katherine
Address(es):
Interred:
Elmwood Cemetery
Detroit , MI

Writings

Image Title Genre Audience Publisher Date
Geological reports of Douglass Houghton, first state geologist of Michigan, 1837-1845, ed. by George N. Fuller. Michigan History Adult Lansing, The Michigan Historical Commission 1928
- His bibliography is in: J.M. Nickles "Geologic Literature on North America" U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 746 1923 Non Fiction 1923

May inquiries be sent to you about doing workshops, readings: No

Donated books to the Authors & Illustrators database project: No

Skills:
Author

Education:

Degree Institution Location Date
Master of Arts (M. A. ) Bowling Green University Bowling Green , OH 1961

Career:

Position Organization Location Date
- Geological field work begun 1844, but he drowned in Lake Superior storm 1844
Mayor of Detroit Detroit , MI 1842 -1843
Named First Geologist of Michigan State of Michigan MI 1839 -1845
Professor of Geology, Mineralogy University of Michigan Ann Arbor , MI 1838 -1845
Physician, surgeon Detroit , MI 1832 -1837
Appointed surgeon, botanist, Henry R. Schoolcraft expedition to discover sources of the Mississippi
- On these trips Houghton did extensive botanical collecting, investigated the Lake Superior copper deposits of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and provided medical services to the Indian tribes they encountered. 		1831 -1832
Assistant Professor, lecturer Rensselaer School Troy 1830

Other Resources:

MeLCat Links:
http://elibrary.mel.org/search~S15?/aHoughton%2C+Douglass./ahoughton+douglass/-3%2C-1%2C0%2CB/exact&FF=ahoughton+douglass+1809+1845&1%2C-1%2C/indexsort=r

Other Comments:

On October 13, 1845, he and four others lost their lives en route from Eagle Harbor to Eagle River in the Keweenaw Peninsula when a sudden storm overturned their boat. His body was found the following spring on the Lake Superior shoreline and was brought back to Detroit.

Last Modified On: 7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM