George Perkins Merrill, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

George Perkins Merrill

American geologist and scientific writer

Date of Birth: 31-May-1854

Place of Birth: Maine, United States

Date of Death: 15-Aug-1929

Profession: geologist, curator, mineralogist

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

George Perkins Merrill (May 31, 1854 in Auburn, Maine – August 15, 1929 in Auburn, Maine) was an American geologist, notable as the head curator from 1917 to 1929 of the Department of Geology, United States National Museum (now the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution).He was educated at the University of Maine (B.S., 1879; Ph.D., 1889), took a post-graduate courses of study and was assistant in chemistry at Wesleyan University, Connecticut (1879–1880), and subsequently studied at Johns Hopkins (1886–1887). In 1881 he became assistant curator at the National Museum, Washington, D.C..
He also served as professor of geology and mineralogy at the Corcoran Scientific School of Columbian University (now George Washington University) from 1893 to 1916, and was appointed head curator of the department of geology at the National Museum in 1897.
In 1922 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
He wrote many periodical contributions, especially on meteorites. In 1897 Merrill proposed the term Regolith for the loose outer layer of Earth, the Moon, Mars, etc.
covering solid rock. Merrill was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Auburn, Maine.
The grave marker is engraved: Search for truth is the noblest occupation of man its publication a duty