death_date nationality birth_date known_for article_title name occupation
17 april 1863 american 08 february 1806 surveying the great salt lake howard stansbury
 howard stansbury surveyor
howard stansbury

howard stansbury -lrb- february 8 , 1806 -- april 17 , 1863 -rrb- was a major in the u.s. army corps of topographical engineers .
his most notable achievement was leading a two-year expedition -lrb- 1849 -- 1851 -rrb- to survey the great salt lake and its surroundings .
the expedition report entitled `` exploration and survey of the valley of the great salt lake of utah , including a reconnaissance of a new route through the rocky mountains '' was published in 1852 providing the first serious scientific exploration of the flora and fauna of the great salt lake valley as well as a favorable impression of the members of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints , who had settled there beginning in 1847 .
