Naturalist and Historian. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1823 and taught there until 1833. He then moved to Quebec, where he taught until returning to Vermont in 1837. He was ordained as an Episcopal Deacon in 1835 and often preached in the Burlington area. Thompson served as Assistant State Geologist from 1845 to 1848, was State Naturalist from 1853 to 1856, and taught at UVM again from 1851 to 1856. He was the first writer on Vermont's history and natural science, including geology, geography, botany, paleontology, zoology, entomology, and mineralogy, and his works have been used as primary sources by subsequent authors. His books include 1824's "Gazetteer of the State of Vermont," 1833's "History of the State of Vermont," 1842's "History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical," 1845's "Northern Guide," 1848's "Geography and Geology of Vermont," 1849's "First Book of Geography for Vermont Children," and 1850's "Natural History of Vermont." He was an early leader of the conservation movement, using his works to illustrate how people sometimes damage the environment, including the disappearance of Vermont's catamount, wolf, and salmon, and the harm caused by loggers who clear cut forests. He also supplied astronomical calculations for numerous almanacs and published books on other subjects, including 1825's "The Youth's Assistant," a math text that was used throughout the 1800s. The Zadock Thompson Natural History Collection and Thompson's papers are maintained at the University of Vermont, and his home on the college campus is now the site of UVM's Employee Assistance Program.
Naturalist and Historian. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1823 and taught there until 1833. He then moved to Quebec, where he taught until returning to Vermont in 1837. He was ordained as an Episcopal Deacon in 1835 and often preached in the Burlington area. Thompson served as Assistant State Geologist from 1845 to 1848, was State Naturalist from 1853 to 1856, and taught at UVM again from 1851 to 1856. He was the first writer on Vermont's history and natural science, including geology, geography, botany, paleontology, zoology, entomology, and mineralogy, and his works have been used as primary sources by subsequent authors. His books include 1824's "Gazetteer of the State of Vermont," 1833's "History of the State of Vermont," 1842's "History of Vermont, Natural, Civil, and Statistical," 1845's "Northern Guide," 1848's "Geography and Geology of Vermont," 1849's "First Book of Geography for Vermont Children," and 1850's "Natural History of Vermont." He was an early leader of the conservation movement, using his works to illustrate how people sometimes damage the environment, including the disappearance of Vermont's catamount, wolf, and salmon, and the harm caused by loggers who clear cut forests. He also supplied astronomical calculations for numerous almanacs and published books on other subjects, including 1825's "The Youth's Assistant," a math text that was used throughout the 1800s. The Zadock Thompson Natural History Collection and Thompson's papers are maintained at the University of Vermont, and his home on the college campus is now the site of UVM's Employee Assistance Program.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Thompson memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
