George Perkins Merrill


George Perkins Merrill was an American geologist, notable as the head curator from 1917 to 1929 of the Department of Geology, United States National Museum.
He was educated at the University of Maine, took a post-graduate courses of study and was assistant in chemistry at Wesleyan University, Connecticut, and subsequently studied at Johns Hopkins.
In 1881 he became assistant curator at the National Museum, Washington, D.C.. He also served as professor of geology and mineralogy at the Corcoran Scientific School of Columbian University from 1893 to 1916, and was appointed head curator of the department of geology at the National Museum in 1897. In 1922 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences. He wrote many periodical contributions, especially on meteorites.
In 1897 Merrill proposed the term Regolith for the loose outer layer of Earth, the Moon, Mars, etc. covering solid rock.
Merrill was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Auburn, Maine. The grave marker is engraved:

Search for truth is the
noblest occupation of man
its publication a duty

Publications

His chief publications are: