Posted by Artplex

James Madison Alden (1834 - 1922). Born in Boxborough, MA, he was the great great great grandson of the John Alden who had journeyed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower. He enlisted in the naval force and was assigned to the Pacific Coast charting project.  He created numerous water color drawings as he travel up and down the West Coast and inland areas such as the Sierras and Yosemite. He served in the Civil War and spent his final years in Florida. He is regarded as one of the most highly accomplished of the expedition survey artists. A large body of his work exists.
Sources include The Royal Engineers Living History Group  and Islapedia among others.