Abraham Gesner (1797 – 1864)

Dr. Abraham Gesner (1797 – 1864)
X10722 New Brunswick Museum
Photographer Unknown ( Canadian School? )
albumen print mounted on card
25.4 x 15.8 cm

In 1838, Abraham Gesner became the first government geologist in a British colony when he was appointed Provincial Geologist of New Brunswick. A year later, he discovered albertite (a coal like solid hydrocarbon substance) in Albert County, New Brunswick, but set it aside for later study.

In 1842, Gesner also began the first public museum in Canada, in Saint John . "The Gesner Museum" included more than 2,000 items, mainly in the natural history field, and became the forerunner of today’s New Brunswick Museum.