Murchison, Sir Roderick Impey, 1792-1871 (1st Baronet | Scottish geologist)
Dates
- Existence: 22 February 1792 - 22 October 1871
Biography
Sir Roderick Impey Murchison ( 1792-1871), developed the modern classification of the Palaeozoic period, through his research emphasising biostratigraphy; the deposition of strata indicated by fossils. In the course of his career he successively defined the Silurian, Devonian and Permian strata, which replaced Greywacke and Coal Measures in the scientific literature.
After serving with the army in the Peninsula War and a period of time pursuing his interest in hunting, the independently wealthy Murchison began attending lectures at the Royal Institution. In 1825 he joined the Geological Society of London. Shortly afterwards he read the society his first paper, on the geology of parts of Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey. In the following five years Murchison made field explorations to Scotland, France, and the Alps with either Adam Sedgwick or Charles Lyell. In 1831 he began a study of the Early Palaeozoic rocks in South Wales. These studies were the basis of his defining work The Silurian System, ( 1839) . Further geological research in south western England and the Rhineland, in collaboration with Adam Sedgwick, defined the Devonian System. Russian field expeditions, in conjunction with French colleagues, became the basis for the definition of the Permian System. These expeditions also resulted in his works The Geology of Russia in Europe, ( 1845) and The Ural Mountains, ( 1845) . Successive editions of his expanded treatise on the Silurian System, Siluria, ( 1854) (5th ed. 1872) were also prepared. Latterly he became interested in encouraging geographical exploration and colonialism.
Murchison was president of the Geological Society of London in both 1831-1832 and 1842-1843 and became long term president of the Royal Geographical Society in 1844. As one of the founders of the British Association he was elected president for 1846. He was knighted in 1846 and also awarded the Russian Order of St. Stanislaus of the 1st Class. Appointments as director general of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, and director of the Government School of Mines and the Museum of Economic Geology, London, followed in 1855. From 1863-1871 he was Patron of the Edinburgh Geological Society during which time he was raised to a Baronet. In 1871 he founded a Chair of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Edinburgh.
Found in 50 Collections and/or Records:
Letters from Boucher des Perthes to Charles Lyell, 16th March 1860- 23rd April 1860
Summarised by Lyell
1) Boucher de Perthes sending shells for
2) "Bivalve of Menchecourt"
3) "Boucher de Perthes shells of Menchecourt by
Letters from Sir Roderick Impey Murchison to Charles Wentworh Dilke and related material, 1810-1871
The letters from Sir Roderick Impey Murchison to Charles Wentworth Dilke and related material consist of:
- letters from Sir Roderick Impey Murchison to Charles Wentworth Dilke
- assorted correspondence
- letters received by Sir Archibald Geikie
- notes and papers
Letters from Sir Roderick Impey Murchison to Lady Charlotte Murchison, 1854-1857
The letters from Sir Roderick Impey Murchison to Lady Charlotte Murchison consist of:
- 17 letters, chronologically arranged.
Letters received by Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, mid 19th century
The letters from Sir Roderick Impey Murchison to Charles Wentworth Dilke and related material consist of:
- 86 letters, alphabetically arranged
Letters received by Sir Roderick Impey Murchison and other documents, 1805-1871
3 bundles of around 15 letters (total) received by Sir R.I.Murchison, c.1820-1870, correpondents including his wife, his solicitor and Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay.
Documents connected with Sir R.I.Murchison, c.1805-1871. c.50 items. Includes: passport to France 1814-1815; appointment as Director-General of Geological Survey, 1855.
There are also drawings, one of which is labelled 'by Lady Murchison' one of which is available on LUNA.
Letters to Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay, 1843-1879
The Letters to Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay sub-series consists of:
- 14 letters from a variety of European correspondents concerning geological papers and research (1843-1879).
Minute Book No 7, 07 November 1867 - 18 March 1879
Minute Book No IV, 17 October 1850 - 04 June 1857
Minute Book No V, 16 January 1862 - 26 October 1863
Murchison, Roderick Impey, 19 April 1828-5 February 1829
Letters from Charles Lyell to RI Murchison:
29 April 1828 London
10 October 1828 Florence
14 October 1828 Rome
6 November 1828 Naples
16 December 1828 Licata
12 January 1829 Naples - short summary included
15 January 1829 Naples - short summary included
17 January 1829 Rome
22 January 1829 Rome
5 February 1829 Geneva