BECK, Lewis Caleb, American scientist: b. Schenectady, N. Y., 4 Oct. 1798; d. Albany, N. Y., 20 April 1853. A man of remarkable and wide scientific attainments he graduated at Union College 1817, and became professor of chemistry and natural history at Rutgers College 1830-37 and 1838-53; professor of chemistry and pharmacy at Albany Medical College 1841-53; and was also State mineralogist of New York 1835-41. His publications include ‘Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri’ (1823); ‘Salt Springs at Salina’ (1826); ‘Mineralogy of New York’ (1842), his most important work; and ‘Botany of the United States North of Virginia’ (1848). Consult Gross, ‘American Medical Biography.’