Mitchell, Elisha, 1793-1857

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Elisha Mitchell was a native of Connecticut, student and tutor at Yale College, Presbyterian minister, and professor of geology and chemistry and bursar at the University of North Carolina, 1818-1857.

From the description of Elisha Mitchell papers, 1816-1905. WorldCat record id: 23658466

Elisha Mitchell (19 August 1793-27 June 1857) of Connecticut was a graduate of Yale who taught at Jamaica, Long Island, N.Y. and at New London, Conn., and was a tutor at Yale before becoming a professor at the University of North Carolina in January 1818. Before leaving Connecticut, he was licensed to preach by the Congregational Church, and, in 1821, he was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. He married Maria Sybil North of New London, Conn., in November 1819.

At the University of North Carolina, Mitchell first taught mathematics and natural philosophy, but later shifted to chemistry, geology, and mineralogy. He continued the geological survey of North Carolina begun by Denison Olmstead and made botanical and geological excursions through all of North Carolina, publishing the results in pamphlets and periodicals. He measured the height of the mountain now known as Mount Mitchell, the highest peak east of the Mississippi, but his claim to priority in the measurement of the peak was disputed by Thomas Lanier Clingman, who declared that he and not Mitchell had found the highest point in the range. To settle the controversy, Mitchell went again to the mountains in 1857, andm in the course of this activity, fell down a steep bank into a creek and was drowned. He was buried in Asheville, N.C., and later reinterred on Mount Mitchell.

Mitchell had four daughters: Ellen, who married Joseph John Summerell; Mary, who married Richard Ashe; Eliza, who married Richard Grant; and Margaret, who never married; and one son, Charles, who died in Mississippi without issue. The Summerells lived in Salisbury, N.C., where J.J. Summerell practiced medicine; the Ashes lived in California; and the Grants lived in Texas.

From the guide to the Elisha Mitchell Papers, 1816-1905, (Southern Historical Collection)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Hedrick, Benjamin Sherwood, 1827-1886. Benjamin Sherwood Hedrick papers, 1843-1890. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Chamberlain, Hope Summerell. Life story of Elisha Mitchell, D.D., 1793-1857 : professor in the University of North Carolina from 1818 until his death in 1857 / by Hope Summerell Chamberlain. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Morgan, Rufus, 1846-1880. Rufus Morgan photographic collection, circa 1860-1880. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn McLauchlin, Archibald, d. 1861. Archibald McLauchlin correspondence, 1846-1860. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Norwood, James Alves Hogg, 1804-1852. James Alves Hogg Norwood letters of recommendation, 1834; 1843 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Ramsey, D. Hiden (Darley Hiden), 1891-1966. D. Hiden Ramsey papers, 1877-1966. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Smithsonian Institution Annual Report. 1855.0.
referencedIn Wightman, Joseph M. (Joseph Milner), 1812-1885. Papers, 1839-1880. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
creatorOf Mitchell, Elisha, 1793-1857. Elisha Mitchell papers, 1816-1905. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn University of North Carolina Papers, 1757-1935, (bulk 1789-1930) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. University Archives and Records Service
referencedIn Burton, Robert, 1747-1825. Robert Burton papers, 1775-1866 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Elisha Mitchell Papers, 1816-1905 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Chamberlain, Hope Summerell. Sketch of Elisha Mitchell / by Hope Summerell Chamberlain. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Genealogy of Dr. Elisha Mitchell. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Silas McDowell Papers, 1827-1968 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868. David L. Swain papers, 1807-1877 (bulk 1833-1868). University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Marshall, Matthias Murray, 1841-1912. Matthias Murray Marshall papers, 1823-1912. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Vance, Zebulon Baird, 1830-1894. Papers, 1857-1893. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850. Letter, 1849 Feb. 18, Washington, D.C., to [Elisha] Mitchell. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn Chamberlain, Hope Summerell. Hope Summerell Chamberlain papers, 1888-1951. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Graham, William A. (William Alexander), 1804-1875. William A. Graham papers, 1750-1940. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Staton, McGilvery M. Papers, 1807-1890. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Weather Bureau National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Harrington, Pinckney Cotesworth, fl. 1853-1893. Pinckney Cotesworth Harrington papers, 1829-1893 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Badger, George Edmund, 1795-1866. person
associatedWith Burton, Robert, 1747-1825. person
correspondedWith Calhoun, John C. (John Caldwell), 1782-1850. person
associatedWith Chamberlain, Hope Summerell. person
correspondedWith Clingman, Thomas L. person
correspondedWith Foreman, Edward (Dr.) person
associatedWith Gaston, William, 1778-1844. person
associatedWith Graham, William A. (William Alexander), 1804-1875. person
associatedWith Harrington, Pinckney Cotesworth, fl. 1853-1893. person
associatedWith Hawks, Francis L. (Francis Lister), 1798-1866. person
associatedWith Hedrick, Benjamin Sherwood, 1827-1886. person
associatedWith Hentz, Nicholas Marcellus, 1797-1856. person
associatedWith Hooper, William, 1792-1876. person
associatedWith Ives, L. Silliman (Levi Silliman), 1797-1867. person
associatedWith Marshall, Matthias Murray, 1841-1912. person
associatedWith McDowell, Silas, 1795-1879. person
associatedWith McLauchlin, Archibald, d. 1861. person
associatedWith Mitchell family. family
associatedWith Morgan, Rufus, 1846-1880. person
associatedWith Murphey, Archibald D. (Archibald De Bow), 1777-1832. person
associatedWith North family. family
associatedWith Norwood, James Alves Hogg, 1804-1852. person
associatedWith Otey, James Hervey, 1800-1863. person
associatedWith Ramsey, D. Hiden (Darley Hiden), 1891-1966. person
associatedWith Ravenscroft, John Stark, 1772-1830. person
associatedWith Staton, McGilvery M. person
associatedWith Summerell, J. N. Howard, fl. 1878. person
associatedWith Swain, David L. (David Lowry), 1801-1868. person
associatedWith University of North Carolina (1793-1962) corporateBody
associatedWith Vance, Zebulon Baird, 1830-1894. person
associatedWith Wightman, Joseph M. (Joseph Milner), 1812-1885. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
North Carolina
United States
New Haven (Conn.)
California
Chapel Hill (N.C.)
Salisbury (N.C.)
Scotland
Subject
Presbyterian Church
College teachers
Diaries (Blank-books)
Voyages and travels
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1793-08-19

Death 1857-06-27

Americans

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