George Gibbs

George Gibbs (1815 in Astoria, Queens – 1873) was an American geologist and ethnologist who contributed to the study of the languages of indigenous peoples in Washington Territory. Known for his expertise on Native American customs and languages, Gibbs participated in numerous treaty negotiations between the U.S. government and the native tribes. Gibbs was from a distinguished New York family. After graduating with a law degree from Harvard University, Gibbs worked for American Ethnological Society in New York before moving west in 1849. He hoped to profit from the California Gold Rush, however, he instead settled in Astoria, Oregon where he took up a position as a customs official.