Dictionary.net

An American archaeologist and author; born in Bethlehem, Pa., June 17, 1821; died in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 17, 1888. While a journalist at Chillicothe, O., he prepared an account of discoveries in ancient mounds (he being the principal authority on the subject) for the "Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge" (1848). He was charge d'affaires to the Central American States (1849), consul-general to Peru (1863), and to Honduras (1868). Besides many reports and contributions to periodicals and scientific journals, he published: "Aboriginal Monuments of the State of New York" (1851); "Serpent Symbols" (1852); "Nicaragua" (1852); "Notes on Central America" (1854); "States of Central America" (1857); "Tropical Fibres" (1861); "Peru: Incidents and Explorations" (1877).