Henry Stafford Osborn

Background

Henry Stafford Osborn was born on August 17, 1823, in Philadelphia, the son of the Rev. Truman Osborn, of New England stock, and Eliza (Paget) Osborn, of a South Carolina family.

Education

Henry received the degree of A. B. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1841, entered Union Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1845, and on April 9, 1848, was ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church.

Career

Henry Osborn was stated supply at Coventry, Rhode Island, 1845-46, and in 1846 had gone to Hanover, Virginia, where he was in charge of a church till 1849. He served pastorates at Richmond, Virginia, 1849-53; Liberty, Virginia, 1853-58; and Belvidere, New Jersey, 1859-65. He had a strong bent toward science, and during his early years in the ministry served for some time as professor of natural science in Roanoke College, Virginia. In 1866 he accepted the professorship of chemistry and mining engineering in Lafayette College, resigning to assume in 1870 that of the natural sciences in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Although in 1873 Miami University closed temporarily, he continued his residence in Oxford until his death, devoting his time to the ministry, lecturing, writing, and publishing.

Osborn went abroad for travel and study in 1850-51 and again in 1858-59. During the second trip he made special studies in the geography and plants of Palestine, as a result of which he published Palestine, Past and Present (1859) and Plants of the Holy Land with Their Fruits and Flowers (1860), illustrated by original drawings which exhibit accuracy of observation and striking artistic skill. His chief interests from 1873 to the time of his death were the extension of his studies and publication in his two fields of original inquiry, the Holy Land and metallurgy.

In connection with his later works on the Holy Land, he established in Oxford a "Map Shop" from which, with the assistance of one employee, for twenty years he published for churches and Sunday schools in England and America his attractive hand-made maps, illustrating the geography of Palestine and the ancient world for the benefit of ministers and Sunday-school teachers. His New Descriptive Geography of Palestine was issued in 1877. His publications in the field of mineralogy included Metallurgy, Iron and Steel (1869); A Practical Manual of Minerals, Mines and Mining (1888); and The Prospector's Field-book and Guide (1892).

Achievements

• Henry Osborn was professor of natural science in Roanoke College, Virginia; of chemistry and mining engineering in Lafayette College; and of the natural sciences in Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Henry Osborn's major works: Palestine, Past and Present (1859); Plants of the Holy Land with Their Fruits and Flowers (1860); New Descriptive Geography of Palestine (1877); Metallurgy, Iron and Steel (1869); A Practical Manual of Minerals, Mines and Mining (1888); and The Prospector's Field-book and Guide (1892).

Works

More photos

• book

  • Plants of the Holy Land: With Their Fruits and Flowers, Beautifully (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Plants of the Holy Land: With Their Fruits a...)

  • Palestine, Past and Present: With Biblical, Literary, and Scientific Notices

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The New Descriptive Geography of Palestine

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • Practical manual of minerals, mines and mining: comprising suggestions as to the localities and associations of all the useful minerals

    (This book was digitized and reprinted from the collection...)

  • Prospector's Field-Book and Guide: In the Search for and the Easy Determination of Ores and Other Useful Minerals (Classic Reprint)

    (A nother edition of this well-known book is justified. Th...)

Personality

Henry Osborn was a man of versatile talents and striking personality - tall, thin to gauntness, talkative, notably genial among friends, lover of harmless gossip. Like a true philosopher he was indifferent to economic considerations and social conventions. To and from his map shop, in his research laboratory, on field trips, on business errands, he wore his familiar "tile" hat and morning clothes. While much abstracted in his daily contacts, when engaged in conversation or address his mind exhibited a many-sided interest and a keen discrimination that marked him as distinctly intellectual.

Connections

In 1860, while at Belvidere, Henry Osborn married Pauline Courson, to which union was born one daughter.

Father:

Rev. Truman Osborn

Mother:

Eliza (Paget) Osborn

Wife:

Pauline (Courson) Osborn