George H. Cook

George Hammell Cook (January 5, 1818 – September 22, 1889) was the State Geologist of New Jersey and Vice President of Rutgers College. His geological survey of New Jersey became the predecessor for the U.S. Geological Survey. He was born in Hanover Township, New Jersey on January 18, 1818 to John Cook (1786-?) and Sarah Munn (1786-?). He married Mary Halsey Thomas (1821-?) on March 23, 1846. He served as the Principal of The Albany Academy in Albany, New York from 1850 to 1852. He came to Rutgers in 1853 and was appointed professor of chemistry. His teaching duties also included mathematics and theology. Among his first research projects was the chemical analysis of marl. This research led him to determine better places to mine marl,...