Beaumont Jean Baptiste Eliede

Beaumont, Jean Baptiste Elie de, was born in Calvados, France, in 1798, and educated at the Ecole Polytechnique. He became in 1824 Professor of Geology in the School of Mines and afterwards in the College of France. Elected to the Academy of Sciences in 1825, he succeeded Arago as perpetual secretary to that body. His great work was the preparation, in concert with Dufresnoy, of the Geological Map of France, but many other minor undertakings attest his industry and intelligence. His theory as to the origin of volcanoes and the elevation of mountains has provoked much discussion, and gained but little credence outside France. He taught that the crust of the earth was upheaved by subterranean forces until at last the dome-like mass gave way at its highest point and the molten lava and other substances were ejected. He, moreover, applied his idea to the raising of mountain systems generally. He died in 1874.