Pioneering Geographer, Surveyor. Son of Thomas Davidson, a native of Arbroath, Scotland, and Janet Drummond, daughter of John Drummond of Montrose, Scotland. Soon after their marriage his parents moved to Nottingham, England where George was born. In 1832, the family crossed the Atlantic on the sailing ship John Wells and eventually settled in Philadelphia. George graduated from Central High School in 1845 with highest honors. He was taught by Alexander Dallas Bache, Principal of the school and former West Point graduate. Bache was also in charge of the Magnetic Observatory at Girard College. In 1842, Bache employed Davidson at the Observatory. In 1843, Bache became the Superintendent of the U. S. Coast Survey, and he employed Davidson. From 1846 to 1850, Davidson was occupied in geodetic field work, and in astronomy, serving on the east coast of the United States. In 1850, he went to California with the Coast Survey, and was for several years engaged in the determination of the latitude and longitude of prominent capes, bays, and of the magnetic elements of the Pacific Coast, reporting also upon the proper locations for lighthouses. His work included a survey of Washington and Puget sounds, and was in charge of triangulation of the coast in the region of San Francisco. In 1853, he named a number of mountains in the Olympic Mountains: he named Mount Ellinor for Ellinor Fauntleroy, who became his wife in 1858, Mount Constance for Ellinor's older sister and The Brothers for her two brothers. Professor Davidson’s frequent connection with important events in the history of the United States is well illustrated by his assignments in 1867. In January he was detailed on duty as engineer of a party sent to the Isthmus of Panama to search for the best location for a ship canal. Later he was sent to Alaska to report upon resources of that country with a view to ascertaining the advisability of adding it to the United States. Pending its purchase; his published report and conferences with congressional committees influenced the passage of the bill. He was placed in charge, of the Coast Survey on the Pacific from 1867 until 1875. In 1881, Davidson twice measured the Yolo base line, one of the geodesic base lines that formed the foundation of triangulating distances in California. At that time, it was the longest base line yet attempted in trigonometrical operations, and the system of triangulation directly connected therewith was called in his honor the “Davidson quadrilaterals.” He retired from the Coast Survey in 1895, after 50 years of service. He founded the Davidson Observatory in San Francisco, which was the first astronomical observatory on the Pacific coast of North America, and in 1869 brought the Pacific geodetic of the coast survey in telegraphic longitude connection with Greenwich. His astronomical work includes the observation of the total solar eclipse under the 60th parallel, in 1869; determination of the 120th meridian, in 1873; charge of the U. S. transit of Venus expedition, in 1874; and observation of the total solar eclipse of January 7, 1880; Other positions held by Davidson include president of the California Academy of Sciences from 1871 to 1887, Honorary Professor of Geodesy and Astronomy, and Regent of the University of California from 1877 to 1885. After his retirement from the Coast Survey, he became the first professor of geography at the University of California, Berkeley, and chaired that department from 1898 until his retirement in 1905, and remained an emeritus professor until his death at 87 in his residence in San Francisco. Professor Davidson published ‘The Alaska Boundary’ (1903); ‘The Glaciers of Alaska’ (1904); ‘The Discovery of San Francisco Bay’ (1907); ‘Francis Drake on the Northwest Coast of America’ (1908); ‘Origin and Meaning of the Name California’ (1910). There are three Mount Davidsons named after him in the United States: in San Francisco, California; above Virginia City, Nevada; and in Alaska. Alaska also has the Davidson Mountains, Davidson Inlet, Davidson Bank, and Davidson Glacier. There is a Davidson Seamount southwest of Monterey, California, and an NOAA ship named Davidson.
Pioneering Geographer, Surveyor. Son of Thomas Davidson, a native of Arbroath, Scotland, and Janet Drummond, daughter of John Drummond of Montrose, Scotland. Soon after their marriage his parents moved to Nottingham, England where George was born. In 1832, the family crossed the Atlantic on the sailing ship John Wells and eventually settled in Philadelphia. George graduated from Central High School in 1845 with highest honors. He was taught by Alexander Dallas Bache, Principal of the school and former West Point graduate. Bache was also in charge of the Magnetic Observatory at Girard College. In 1842, Bache employed Davidson at the Observatory. In 1843, Bache became the Superintendent of the U. S. Coast Survey, and he employed Davidson. From 1846 to 1850, Davidson was occupied in geodetic field work, and in astronomy, serving on the east coast of the United States. In 1850, he went to California with the Coast Survey, and was for several years engaged in the determination of the latitude and longitude of prominent capes, bays, and of the magnetic elements of the Pacific Coast, reporting also upon the proper locations for lighthouses. His work included a survey of Washington and Puget sounds, and was in charge of triangulation of the coast in the region of San Francisco. In 1853, he named a number of mountains in the Olympic Mountains: he named Mount Ellinor for Ellinor Fauntleroy, who became his wife in 1858, Mount Constance for Ellinor's older sister and The Brothers for her two brothers. Professor Davidson’s frequent connection with important events in the history of the United States is well illustrated by his assignments in 1867. In January he was detailed on duty as engineer of a party sent to the Isthmus of Panama to search for the best location for a ship canal. Later he was sent to Alaska to report upon resources of that country with a view to ascertaining the advisability of adding it to the United States. Pending its purchase; his published report and conferences with congressional committees influenced the passage of the bill. He was placed in charge, of the Coast Survey on the Pacific from 1867 until 1875. In 1881, Davidson twice measured the Yolo base line, one of the geodesic base lines that formed the foundation of triangulating distances in California. At that time, it was the longest base line yet attempted in trigonometrical operations, and the system of triangulation directly connected therewith was called in his honor the “Davidson quadrilaterals.” He retired from the Coast Survey in 1895, after 50 years of service. He founded the Davidson Observatory in San Francisco, which was the first astronomical observatory on the Pacific coast of North America, and in 1869 brought the Pacific geodetic of the coast survey in telegraphic longitude connection with Greenwich. His astronomical work includes the observation of the total solar eclipse under the 60th parallel, in 1869; determination of the 120th meridian, in 1873; charge of the U. S. transit of Venus expedition, in 1874; and observation of the total solar eclipse of January 7, 1880; Other positions held by Davidson include president of the California Academy of Sciences from 1871 to 1887, Honorary Professor of Geodesy and Astronomy, and Regent of the University of California from 1877 to 1885. After his retirement from the Coast Survey, he became the first professor of geography at the University of California, Berkeley, and chaired that department from 1898 until his retirement in 1905, and remained an emeritus professor until his death at 87 in his residence in San Francisco. Professor Davidson published ‘The Alaska Boundary’ (1903); ‘The Glaciers of Alaska’ (1904); ‘The Discovery of San Francisco Bay’ (1907); ‘Francis Drake on the Northwest Coast of America’ (1908); ‘Origin and Meaning of the Name California’ (1910). There are three Mount Davidsons named after him in the United States: in San Francisco, California; above Virginia City, Nevada; and in Alaska. Alaska also has the Davidson Mountains, Davidson Inlet, Davidson Bank, and Davidson Glacier. There is a Davidson Seamount southwest of Monterey, California, and an NOAA ship named Davidson.
Bio by: David Fisher
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