Andrew Ellicott

Description

**ANDREW...US Surveyor, teacher, astronomer, mathematician, Land Agent.Born in Bucks Cnty, PA. He served during the Rev as a commissioned officer in the Elk Ridge Battalion of the Maryland militia and rose to rank of Major. In 1784, he was part of the survey of the Mason-Dixon line. In 1785, he moved to Baltimore and taught mathematics at the Academy of Baltimore and in 1786 was elected to the legislature. That year he surveyed the western border of PA known as the "Ellicott Line", which later became the main meridian for the Northwest Territory. He was appointed by Geo Washington to survey lands between Lake Erie & PA to determine the border between NY and the US Territory resulting in the Erie Triangle. In 1791, he surveyed for Washington the future city of Washington, DC. In 1794, he was commissioned to plan the City of Erie, PA. In 1796, he again was commissioned by Washington to survey the border between the Spanish territories in Florida running the disputed line of the no latitude 31 degrees, which still defines the border between Alabama & Florida. One of his markers for the boundary line survives to this day & bears his name, Ellicott's Stone. In 1803 he published his "Journal of Andrew Ellicott" detailing the Florida survey & his maps. He took a position offered by PA Gov Thomas McKean, to serve as Sec of the PA Land Office, but in 1809 was fired by Simon Snyder due to political differences. In 1803, he was engaged by Thomas Jefferson as teacher to Meriwether Lewis. In 1811, he was commissioned by the Gov of GA, to re-survey the border of Georgia & No Carolina over their disputes. In 1813, he accepted a position as professor of mathematics at USMA West Point, NY. He again was called in 1817 to survey to establish the western border between Canada and the US to run along the 45 degree No latitude, which was his most significant work. His brother, Joseph Ellicott, is noted with founding of Batavia & Buffalo, NY. He was also brother of Congressman Benjamin Ellicott. He died at West Point, NY while professor at USMA West Point. (bio by: historyseeker)