Tyrrell, << TIHR ehl, >> Joseph Burr (1858-1957), was a Canadian geologist, historian, and mining engineer. He conducted studies during several expeditions in the northwestern part of Canada that aided in the development of the Canadian mining industry.
Tyrrell was born on Nov. 1, 1858, in Weston, Ontario, near Toronto. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1880 and joined the Geological Survey of Canada in 1881. In 1884, near Drumheller, Alberta, he discovered the first dinosaur bones ever found in Canada. Shortly afterward, he found one of Canada’s largest coal deposits nearby.
During 1893 and 1894, Tyrrell traveled from Lake Athabasca across the barren lands of the North West Territories (now the Northwest Territories and Nunavut) to Hudson Bay. During one eight-month period, he covered about 3,200 miles (5,150 kilometers). This expedition included about 900 miles (1,448 kilometers) traveled largely on snowshoes. Tyrrell mapped the region and predicted correctly that the minerals there would greatly increase Canada’s wealth.
Tyrrell left the Geological Survey of Canada in 1898 and became a mining engineer and manager. He joined the Kirkland Lake Gold Mining Company in 1924 and served as president of the firm from 1931 until his death on Aug. 26, 1957. Tyrrell wrote many articles about geology and exploration in Canada and edited the journals of fur trader Samuel Hearne, surveyor Philip Turnor, and geographer David Thompson.
