Gerard Troost (1776–1850)

Dutch-born American geologist and chemist. Became a medical doctor through apprenticeship in Leiden and a pharmacist through apprenticeship in Amsterdam. Became a pupil of René Just Haüy at the Natural History Museum, Paris, 1807. Moved to Philadelphia, 1810; founding president of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Taught geology at the University of Nashville, where he also opened a museum. First state geologist of Tennessee, 1831; established state survey later known as the Tennessee Division of Geology.