David T. Ansted

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Dr. David T. Ansted, British geologist (1814-1880)

David Thomas Ansted (February 5, 1814–May 13, 1880) was an English geologist and author.

Ansted was born in London on February 5, 1814. He was educated at Jesus College, Cambridge, and after taking his degree of M.A. in 1839 was elected to a fellowship of the college. Inspired by the teachings of Adam Sedgwick, his attention was given to geology, and in 1840, he was elected professor of geology in King's College, London, a post which he held until 1853.

Meanwhile he became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1844, and from that date until 1847 he was vice-secretary of the Geological Society. The practical side of geology now came to occupy his attention and he visited various parts of Europe and the British Islands as a consulting geologist and mining engineer.

Dr. Ansted's Gold-Seekers Manual (1849) attempted to improve the prospects of emigrants to the California gold rush. His other published works include Geology, introductory, descriptive, & practical (1844), The Geologist's Text-Book (1845), Syllabus of lectures on mineralogy, geology, and practical geology... (1848), An elementary course of geology, mineralogy, and physical geography (1850), The Great Stone Book of Nature (1853), The applications of geology to the arts and manufactures... (1865).

In 1853, Ansted was one of the earlier geologists to identify the rich bituminous coal seams which lay in southern West Virginia in the United States, where he invested in land. The town of Ansted in Fayette County was named in his honor in 1873. His protégé, William N. Page, became a leading industrialist and developer of coal mines and railroads in the area.

Dr. Ansted exchanged correspondence with Charles Darwin about 1860. In 1868, Dr. Ansted became an Examiner in Physical Geography to the Science and Art Department of King's College.

Ansted died at Melton near Woodbridge in Suffolk, England on May 13, 1880.