Acosta, Joachim

( ah - kōs'tah ) a colonel of engineers in the service of the U. States of Colombia, and a distinguished geographer and historian, served in 1831 in the Colombian army. In 1834, with the botanist Cespedes, he undertook a scientific expedition, extending from the valley of Socorro to that of the Magdelena, and seven years later traversed the country from Antioquia to Anserma. A. afterwards repaired to Europe and resided in Spain for several years. He published an excellent map of the territory of New Granada (now Colombia). His most important publication, however, was the Discovery and Colonization of New Granada.