James Gates Percival

James Gates Percival (1795–1856) was an American poet, geologist, and antiquarian. Born in Berlin, Connecticut, he studied at Yale, earning degrees in 1815 and 1816, and later received an M.D. from Yale in 1820. Percival published poetry early in his career, including *Prometheus* (1820) and *Clio* (1822), and became associated with the literary culture of the early United States. He also pursued scientific work, serving as state geologist of Connecticut (1835–1838) and later as the first state geologist of Wisconsin (1854–1856). His writings and surveys reflect a lifelong interest in American landscapes, history, and natural science.