William L. Carpenter

William Lewis Carpenter (January 13, 1844, at Dunkirk, Chautauqua County, New York – July 10, 1898, at Madison Barracks, Jefferson County, New York) was a U.S. Army Officer, naturalist and a geologist who helped document the minerals and resources of the Black Hills of South Dakota which inadvertently led to the Great Sioux War of 1876.

After publication of several scientific articles, ranging in topic from naturalist to geological surveys, he was appointed a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army on April 5, 1867.

Listed as "Bill Louis (sic) carpenter" he briefed naturalist George Bird Grinnell and others for that expedition.

[5] In 1875, Lt. Carpenter, under Colonel Richard Irving Dodge became part of the 1875 Newton-Jenney Party which was a scientific expedition sponsored by the United States Geological Survey to map the Black Hills of South Dakota.

[6] Lt. W. Carpenter was commended for his "exceptional diligence and scientific assistance" and that he "contributed greatly" to the 1880 Black Hills Geological report.

"[10] This report provided the economic reasons of the land and gold rush into the Black Hills of South Dakota 1873–1877, and was well received by the scientific community.

Nominated by geologist W. P. Jenney, who encouraged him to go into academics, William L. Carpenter was elected a "Fellow"[11] of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on September 4, 1877.

The office was sought for by numerous candidates, but Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Bristow decided to give the plum to Mrs. Carpenter.