John Casper Branner (1850-1922) was born in New Market, Tennessee, in 1850.
Branner received his bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1882, and his Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1885. An American geologist and academic, he discovered bauxite in Arkansas in 1887 as State Geologist. He was Chair of the Department of Botany and Geology at Indiana University and served as President of the Indiana Academy of Science in 1889. In 1891 Dr. Branner was selected by Stanford president David Starr Jordan as professor of geology. He served as vice-president of Stanford from 1898 to 1913, during which he was also President of the Seismological Society of America. in 1913 the Stanford trustees honored him with the university's presidency. Dr. Branner retired as the university's second president in 1915 at age 65. He also resigned as head of the department of geology and mining, a post he occupied for 23 years. After retirement he was appointed by President Wilson in 1916 to investigate the cause of massive landslides affecting operations of the Panama Canal. Dr. Branner was a recognized expert on the geology of South American republics, among many other things.
For more information about Dr. Branner and his work, read this Article about him and the Seismological Society of America.
The best (by far!) dorm at Stanford University is named after him.
Whose hall?BRANNER HALL!!!