13 Facts About Peter Lesley

Peter Lesley, later known as J Peter Lesley, was an American geologist.

Peter Lesley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 17,1819.

Peter Lesley graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1838, where he was trained for the ministry.

Peter Lesley graduated from the seminary in 1844, and, in April of that year, he was licensed to preach by the presbytery of Philadelphia.

Peter Lesley then worked for two years for the American Tract Society, and at the close of 1847 he joined Professor Rogers again in preparing geological maps and sections at Boston.

Peter Lesley then accepted the pastorate of the Congregational church at Milton, Massachusetts.

Peter Lesley remained there until 1851, when, his views having become unitarian, he abandoned the ministry, returned to Philadelphia, and entered into practice as a consulting geologist.

Peter Lesley made extensive and important researches in the coal, oil, and iron fields of the United States and Canada and became State geologist of Pennsylvania in 1874.

Peter Lesley spent 1863 in Europe, examining the Bessemer ironworks in Sheffield for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and in 1867 he was one of ten commissioners sent by the United States Senate to the World's Fair in Paris.

Peter Lesley later served as the Society's secretary and librarian from 1858 until 1885, and during that time prepared a catalogue of its library in three volumes.

Peter Lesley was a member of various other scientific societies, and was one of the original members of the National Academy of Sciences.

Peter Lesley was an abolitionist, and worked with Frederick Douglass to reconnect slave families separated by sale.

Peter Lesley died, aged 83, from a stroke at his home in Milton, Massachusetts on June 1,1903.