Cook, George Hammell, 1818-1889

Dr. George Hammell Cook was born on January 5, 1818, in Hanover, New Jersey.

He was the State Geologist and Vice President of Rutgers College. In 1836, he became a civil engineer. In 1839, he graduated from the Troy Polytechnic Institute, New York. Afterwards, he started to teach at the institute and in 1842, he became its president. Later he became president of the Albany Academy, and in 1853, he was made professor of chemistry and natural philosophy at Rutgers College, New Jersey. In 1854, he was appointed State Geologist of New Jersey and many topographical maps of the state were published under his supervision. In 1864, he became Vice-President of Rutgers College. He organized the State Board of Agriculture and in 1866, he became the Chief Director of the New Jersey State Weather Service. He was also a delegate to the International Geological Congress in Paris in 1878. Dr. Cook was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the author of many papers and addresses. He received the degree of LL.D. from Union College and was made Doctor of Philosophy by the New York University.

In 1846, he married Mary Halsey Thomas (1821–1898). He died on September 22, 1889, in New Brunswick, New Jersey.