The New International Encyclopædia/Orton, James

ORTON, James (1830-77). An American naturalist, born at Seneca Falls, N. Y. He graduated at Williams College in 1855, and then studied theology at the Andover Seminary. In 1860 he returned from an extensive trip through Europe and Palestine, and was ordained a Congregational minister. He became professor of natural science in Rochester University in 1866, in the next year he took charge of a scientific expedition across South America, and in 1873 took part in an expedition to Lima and Lake Titicaca. From 1869 to the time of his death he was professor of natural history in Vassar College. He published The Miner's Guide and Metallurgist's Directory (1849); The Andes and the Amazon (1870); and Comparative Zoölogy (1875).