THE SHOE AND THE CANOE, BY JOHN J. BIGSBY (LONDON, 1850)

Not an author that most geologists will ever have heard of, Dr. John Bigsby was an English medical officer initially assigned to care for a detachment of a German Rifle regiment in the service of His Majesty during the Napoleonic Wars. After the War of 1812, Bigsby brought an amateur zeal for geology along with his medical expertise to his next posting in Canada. A combination of circumstances, inclination, and aptitude allowed him to serve briefly on the Upper Canada geological survey and then for several years as part of the International Boundary Commission charged with establishing and marking a scientifically valid territorial division of the waters and lands between the United States and Canada throughout the Great Lakes.

Bigsby’s occasional geological notes to the American Journal of Science were published by Benjamin Silliman, Sr. throughout the 1820s, attracting the notice and scientific respect of North American colleagues. Eventually, Bigsby compiled polished accounts of his travels and geological observations into a massive work published back in London after his retirement from active service. This book, The Shoe and the Canoe, provides a unique window into the fascinating characteristics of applied early nineteenth century natural history knowledge.