24 Facts About Douglass Houghton

Douglass Houghton was an American geologist and physician, primarily known for his exploration of the Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan.

Douglass Houghton was appointed in 1839 as the first state geologist of Michigan, after it was admitted to the union, and served in that position for the rest of his life.

Douglass Houghton was born in Troy, New York, the son of Jacob Houghton, a lawyer and later a county judge, and Mary Lydia.

Douglass Houghton exhibited early his lifelong interest in the natural world.

In 1829 Douglass Houghton entered the Rensselaer School in Troy, where, under the direction of Amos Eaton, scientific training was emphasized, particularly in geology.

Douglass Houghton studied medicine with a doctor friend of his family, and in 1831 received a license to practice.

Douglass Houghton was enthusiastically received in Detroit and rapidly became one of its best-known citizens, with the young men of his acquaintance soon styling themselves "the Houghton boys".

Douglass Houghton quickly was selected by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, US Indian Agent and geologist, to act as physician-naturalist on expeditions through Lake Superior and the upper Mississippi valley in 1831 and 1832.

Douglass Houghton administered more than 2,000 smallpox vaccinations to Indians in the Chippewa region over the course of his two months exploring with Henry Schoolcraft in 1832, undoubtedly saving many Indian lives.

Douglass Houghton estimated that the disease had appeared among the Chippewa at least five times in the previous 60 years.

In 1833 Douglass Houghton married his childhood friend Harriet Stevens; they had two daughters together.

Douglass Houghton established a flourishing medical practice in Detroit and earned the affectionate description: "the little doctor, our Dr Houghton".

Douglass Houghton was a founding member and treasurer of the Association of American Geologists and Naturalists and served on several of its committees.

Douglass Houghton administered competently, raising the possibility of higher political office, perhaps governor.

In 1845, with the state survey moribund because of the lack of funds, Douglass Houghton organized a combined linear and geological survey of the Lake Superior region that was funded by the federal government.

Douglass Houghton's demise sent waves of shock through Michigan and the entire country.

Douglass Houghton's remains were discovered on the shoreline the next spring 1846 and returned to Detroit, where they were buried in Elmwood Cemetery.

Douglass Houghton explored the area in 1831 and 1832, and conducted a survey of the peninsula in 1840 as State Geologist of the newly formed state.

Douglass Houghton famously concluded, "the copper ores are not only of superior quality, but that their associations are such as to render them easily reduced".

Douglass Houghton noted that samples of ore he had tested were richer than the copper ore then being mined in Cornwall.

Douglass Houghton's warning against prospectors rushing to the area in hopes of striking it rich became famous during the copper boom: "look closely before the step is taken, which will most certainly end in disappointment and ruin".

However, to his death Douglass Houghton never came to realize that in the Keweenaw ores like those in Cornwall were present in vanishingly small amounts, and all the copper mined turned out to be native, pure copper.

Nevertheless, Douglass Houghton's report prompted a major rush of settlers to the peninsula.

Douglass Houghton had multiple skills to apply, but he was not always successful in reconciling the conflicting demands of the various roles he filled.