John Torrey, Mineralogist

1796-1873

Although better remembered in the annals of American science as a botanist, John Torrey was a prominent member of the mineralogical community in early 19th century New York.

Born in 1796 in New York City, Torrey was the second oldest of ten children. His interest in natural history was provided with an unusual boost when his father was appointed as an administrator to a New York State prison. Numbered amoung the inmates was Amos Eaton, a naturalist then serving a life sentence (later commuted) for forgery and fraud. Eaton undertook to tutor the 14-year old Torrey in the rudiments of science.

Enrolling at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City to take a degree in medicine, Torrey had the opportunity to learn under some of the most pre-eminent naturalists in the early United States, including Samuel Latham Mitchill and David Hosack. Torrey was given of the privilege of "arranging" Hosack's cabinet of European minerals, and was even provided access to the private chemical laboratory of Colonel George Gibbs, then one of the leading mineral collectors in the United States, at the latter's Long Island, New York estate.

In 1817, a group of naturalists — many drawn from the ranks of the faculty and student body of the College of Physicians and Surgeons — established the New York Lyceum of Natural History, an organization which was to greatly advance both geology and mineralogy in the New York City region. Torrey was amoung the founding members, serving first as its Curator of Collections and eventually even fulfilling the office of President. The Lyceum eventually evolved into the prestigious New York Academy of Science, and its natural history collections became part of the core collection of the American Museum of Natural History.

Obtaining his MD in 1818, Torrey continued his interests in mineralogy and chemistry. In the early 1820's, he visited the Franklin - Sterling Hill area to observe first-hand the unique mineral occurrences previously described by Archibald Bruce. Torrey subsequently published his observations on franklinite, willemite and rhodonite, and transmitted specimens to scientists overseas (most notably Thomas Thomson of Glasgow University). Torrey even became embroiled into the rather vociferous controversy over "brucite" and "maclureite", originally described as new minerals species but later shown to be members of the Humite group.

Torrey married Eliza Shaw in 1824, and relocated to US Military Academy at West Point where he taught chemistry and mineralogy for several years. In 1827, he returned to New York City to accept the post of professor of chemistry, which he retained until 1855. He also accepted a position teaching summer courses at the College of New Jersey which he held until 1853. He was appointed U.S. Assayer to the newly-built U.S. Mint in New York City in 1853.

The mineral species originally termed "delta-Mooreite", first described from Sterling Hill in 1929 was named Torreyite in his honour in 1949.

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