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James Orton

1830 – 1877

American naturalist

Naturalist Writer Meteorological observer
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About James Orton

Lived 1830 – 1877 (aged 47). James Orton was an American naturalist, writer and meteorological observer.

James Orton (21 April 1830, Seneca Falls, New York – 25 September 1877, Lake Titicaca, Peru) was an American naturalist who contributed much to the knowledge of South America and the Amazon basin.

Biography James Orton taken in William Notman's studio in Montreal in 1870. Orton was the son of Presbyterian clergyman and theologian Azariah Giles Orton. Four of his seven brothers died in infancy, and the family's financial resources were very meager. Early in life he developed an interest in natural history and writing. Financial difficulties and poor health delayed his matriculation at Williams College,

Works His works include: Miners' Guide and Metallurgists' Directory (New York, 1849) The Proverbalist and the Poet (Philadelphia, 1852) The Andes and the Amazon (New York, 1870; 3rd ed. 1876) Underground Treasures: How and Where to Find Them. A Key for the Ready Determination of All the Useful Minerals Within the United States (Hartford, 1872) The liberal education of women: the demand and the method. Current thoughts in America and England(New York, 1873) Comparative Zoology, structural and systematic (1875)

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Williams College, University of Rochester, Vassar College
Employers
Vassar College, Ward's Natural Science, University of Rochester
Also known as
ORTON, JAMES, James G. Orton

People in James Orton's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped James Orton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was James Orton?

American naturalist (1830–1877)

When was James Orton born?

James Orton was born on 21 April 1830 in Seneca Falls.

When did James Orton die?

James Orton died on 25 September 1877 in Titicaca.

What was James Orton's occupation?

James Orton was a naturalist, writer and meteorological observer.

What nationality was James Orton?

James Orton was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: James Orton

· Wikidata: Q6140665

· DBpedia: James Orton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). James Orton. https://biography.guide/james-orton/

MLA: "James Orton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/james-orton/.

Chicago: "James Orton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/james-orton/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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