Born at Salem, Massachusetts/ Attended Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard and later the University of Berlin. Received A.M. and Ph.D. from University of Gottinger in 1857. Professor at New York State Agricultural College prior to the Civil War. Employed as a mining engineer before service as a captain during the Civil war. Married to Mary Elizabeth Farley on July 22, 1874. They had three children.

Commissioned by President Lincoln as Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers in 1862. He served on the staff of McClelland, Burnside, Hooker and Meade. Returned to New York City in December 1863. Professor at Lehigh University 1874 to 1885. President of Everett Iron Company.

Appointed Director of the Mint by President Cleveland. He served July 1885 to October 1889. He served on the Assay Commission for 1895 and 1911. He died in Cody, Wyoming.

Kimball appears on a mint medal (USM 307) as one of the series for Directors of the Mint. Dies were by Charles E. Barber.

bio: ApCAB; Evans; Failor; NCAB 11; WWWA-1