McGill Library
McLennan Library Building3459 rue McTavish
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 0C9
Letter, 4 November 1848
Item
Lewis White Williams was born on December 20, 1804, in East Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
He was a mineralogist and geologist. When the Chester County Cabinet of Natural Sciences was organized in 1826, he became one of its earliest and ardent members and chose mineralogy for his field of study. He collected and distributed many specimens from West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania. Williams also participated in expeditions into the neighbouring states and territories. In 1857, he was appointed assistant geologist and naturalist of The Camel Expedition to explore the territory from Texas to California. Williamsite, a variety of precious serpentine, was named after him in honour of his discovery.
He died on September 19, 1873, in West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Letter from L. White Williams to John William Dawson, written from Pennsylvania.