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History Happened Here — Amos Eaton: natural scientist and co-founder of RPI
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| A historical marker near the intersection of county Route 9 and New Concord Road in the hamlet of New Concord indicates the birthplace of geologist, botanist and co-founder and first president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Amos Eaton. (Robert Ragaini/Hudson-Catskill Newspapers) |
By Andrew Amelinckx
NEW CONCORD — Amos Eaton sat by candlelight working on his new system of botanical classification. His notes, written while in Catskill, lay nearby. The lawyer, land agent and surveyor from New Concord, a Columbia County hamlet, had become interested in botany while working in Catskill, but now he was doing his writing from a Manhattan prison.
Eaton was born in New Concord on May 17, 1776 while his father was away fighting the British. The hamlet, located in the town of Chatham, was founded in approximately 1760 by predominantly Connecticut settlers, according to author and historian Paul T. Veillette, writing in his 1993 book “An Early History of New Concord.”
Eaton’s early inclinations leaned toward science but after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Ma. in 1799, he took up law.
He later settled in Catskill.
It was his business as a surveyor and land agent that led to his incarceration. A bogus charge of forgery was brought against him in 1810 by a man he had purchased land from, Nathaniel Pendleton. The charge may have been false, but it was enough to get Eaton convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Eaton was treated better than most inmates, being allowed to eat with the guards, walk along the bank of the Hudson River and pursue his love of the natural sciences. But it was still prison and his home for more than four years. He received a conditional pardon in 1815, and finally received a full pardon from his former law professor, Gov. De Witt Clinton in 1817 when he took office.
Eaton’s life had seemingly been derailed by his time in prison, but it is possible that he would not have gone on to pursue natural science, instead spending his life in his former professions.
Eaton pursued both geology and botany.
Just after his release from prison in 1815 he began collecting various botanical specimens from New York state and New England and went on to describe around 20 new species in several plant families.
He also spent a year at Yale University studying science. He then returned to his alma mater where he lectured and worked on a botanical dictionary.
After settling in the Albany area he became a traveling lecturer and once walked 200 miles through Massachusetts mapping the area’s geology and teaching a seven-week course in Northampton.
Eaton moved in the highest circles of New York Society and received the patronage of Stephen Van Rensselaer III.
Van Rensselaer — a general in the War of 1812, lieutenant governor and heir to one of the largest estates in New York state — encouraged Eaton to conduct geological and agricultural surveys of Albany and Rensselaer counties.
Van Rensselaer was involved in the Eerie Canal project and in that capacity had Eaton survey the planned route of the canal.
In 1824 the two men co-founded the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Eaton developed a teaching method that focused on having students do activities, such as experiments, instead of the common approach of having them learn by rote memorization.
“He was the first president of RPI,” Veillette told the Register-Star.
Eaton remained at RPI for the rest of his life. He died on May 10, 1842 at age 66.
Eaton was born in New Concord on May 17, 1776 while his father was away fighting the British. The hamlet, located in the town of Chatham, was founded in approximately 1760 by predominantly Connecticut settlers, according to author and historian Paul T. Veillette, writing in his 1993 book “An Early History of New Concord.”
Eaton’s early inclinations leaned toward science but after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree from Williams College in Williamstown, Ma. in 1799, he took up law.
He later settled in Catskill.
It was his business as a surveyor and land agent that led to his incarceration. A bogus charge of forgery was brought against him in 1810 by a man he had purchased land from, Nathaniel Pendleton. The charge may have been false, but it was enough to get Eaton convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Eaton was treated better than most inmates, being allowed to eat with the guards, walk along the bank of the Hudson River and pursue his love of the natural sciences. But it was still prison and his home for more than four years. He received a conditional pardon in 1815, and finally received a full pardon from his former law professor, Gov. De Witt Clinton in 1817 when he took office.
Eaton’s life had seemingly been derailed by his time in prison, but it is possible that he would not have gone on to pursue natural science, instead spending his life in his former professions.
Eaton pursued both geology and botany.
Just after his release from prison in 1815 he began collecting various botanical specimens from New York state and New England and went on to describe around 20 new species in several plant families.
He also spent a year at Yale University studying science. He then returned to his alma mater where he lectured and worked on a botanical dictionary.
After settling in the Albany area he became a traveling lecturer and once walked 200 miles through Massachusetts mapping the area’s geology and teaching a seven-week course in Northampton.
Eaton moved in the highest circles of New York Society and received the patronage of Stephen Van Rensselaer III.
Van Rensselaer — a general in the War of 1812, lieutenant governor and heir to one of the largest estates in New York state — encouraged Eaton to conduct geological and agricultural surveys of Albany and Rensselaer counties.
Van Rensselaer was involved in the Eerie Canal project and in that capacity had Eaton survey the planned route of the canal.
In 1824 the two men co-founded the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Eaton developed a teaching method that focused on having students do activities, such as experiments, instead of the common approach of having them learn by rote memorization.
“He was the first president of RPI,” Veillette told the Register-Star.
Eaton remained at RPI for the rest of his life. He died on May 10, 1842 at age 66.
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