James Symmes John Cleves McBrideJames McBride was born on November 2, 1788, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, to George McBride and Mary Riddle McBride. He moved to Ohio and became a leading figure in Butler County, serving as Hamilton s first mayor and later as a state representatve. He was also an amateur archaeologist and canal advocate. McBride supported and helped publish Symmes s Hollow Earth theory. He died on October 3, 1859, in Hamilton, Ohio. Captain John Cleves Symmes Jr. was born on November 5, 1780, in Sussex County, New Jersey, to Thomas Symmes and Mercy Harker Symmes. He began his career as an officer in the United States Army and later worked as a trader and lecturer. He is most recognized for advancing a distinctive version of the Hollow Earth theory in 1818, proposing that the planet is made up of concentric spheres and contains large openings at the poles leading into an inner world. This idea, though widely criticized, became a notable part of early speculative scientific discussion. Symmes spent much of his later life promoting this theory through lectures and published statements, emphasizing exploration and scientific curiosity. He died on May 28, 1829, in Hamilton, Ohio. Read More Read Less