HITCHCOCK, hĭch'kŏk, Charles Henry, American geologist: b. Amherst, Mass., 23 Aug. 1836. He was a son of Edward Hitchcock, geologist (q.v.) He was graduated from Amherst College in 1856, was assistant State geologist of Vermont in 1857-61, State geologist
of Maine 1861-62 and of New Hampshire
1868-78. In 1868 he was appointed professor of
geology in Dartmouth College, retaining this
position until 1908, when he became professor
emeritus. In connection with his survey of
New Hampshire, he maintained, during the
winter of 1870, a meteorological station on
Mount Washington, the earliest high-mountain
observatory in the United States. He became
known as a compiler of geological maps, and
for his investigations regarding the geology of
the crystalline schists, ichnology and glacial
geology. The location of the terminal glacier
in the United States was first suggested by him. His later work has been in connection with the Geological Survey of Vermont, particularly the glacial geology, and with the New Jersey Geological Survey, studying the Trianic footmarks. He claims that the animals that made the tracks were largely ‘birds with teeth’ and not dinosaurs. He was a founder of the Geological Society of America, and in 1883 vice-president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His publications include ‘Elementary Geology’ (1861, with E. Hitchcock); ‘Mt. Washington in Winter’ (1871); and a ‘Report on the Geology of New Hampshire’ (1873-78), with folio atlas, his most valuable work; and ‘Hawaii and its Volcanoes’ (1909; 2d ed., 1911).