Life of Sir Roderick I. Murchison
Based on his Journals and Letters

A detailed biography of the influential Scottish geographer Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792–1871).

Archibald Geikie (Author)

9781108072359, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 June 2011

412 pages, 22 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.3 cm, 0.52 kg

Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792–1871) was an influential Scottish geologist best known for his classification of Palaeozoic rocks into the Silurian system. After early military experience in the Peninsular War, he resigned his commission; a chance meeting with Sir Humphrey Davy led him subsequently to pursue a scientific career. The Silurian System, published in 1839, was a highly influential study, which established the oldest contemporary classification of fossil-bearing strata. Murchison was appointed President of the Royal Geographical Society in 1843. These volumes, first published in 1875, use information taken from Murchison's private journals and correspondence. Archibald Geikie (1835–1924) provides a detailed account of his mentor's life and work in the context of geology as a developing science in the early nineteenth century, and provides a fascinating insight into the life and work of this eminent Victorian geologist. Volume 2 describes his later life, from 1843 to 1871.

17. Journeys to complete the work on Russia
18. Knighthood
19. A winter in Rome and two summers in the Alps
20. The Copley medal
21. Siluria
22. The Geological Survey
23. The geological conquest of the Highlands
24. The foundation-stones of Britain
25. Official life in London
26. Summer holidays of a government official
27. The Royal Geographical Society
28. The last geological touches
29. The close
List of Sir Roderick Murchison's published writings
Index.

Subject Areas: History of science [PDX]