Geikie, Archibald, Sir, 28 December 1835 – 10 November 1924 (Professor of Geology, University of Edinburgh)
Biographical History
Sir Archibald Geikie was born at Edinburgh in 1835, the son of John Stuart Geikie, businessman, and composer, and Isabella Thom. He married Alice Gabrielle Pignatel in 1871. His education was at Black's school, then Edinburgh High School and he showed a great aptitude for study and his interest in science was furthered in the direction of geology when he and his friends discovered fossils at Burdiehouse quarries. Geikie was influenced by scientists such as naturalist John Fleming, to whom he was introduced by his father, and by the many books on geolgy which he consumed, most notably Hugh Miller's Old Red Sandstone.
Geikie's professional life began initially in banking, which he did not enjoy and 1851 saw his a newspaper publication of his Three Weeks in Arran by a Young Geologist, which led to an introduction to Hugh Miller. He also became acquainted with publisher Alexander Macmillan, geologist James David Forbes and Andrew Crombie Ramsay. The banking career abandoned, he matriculated at the University of Edinburgh in 1854 but had to leave the following year for financial reasons. A recommendation by both Miller and Ramsay to Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, newly appointed head of the Geological Survey, secured Geikie a position there as mapping assistant. The following years saw him make the acquaintance of distinguished scientists such as Leonard Horner and Sir Charles Lyell.
His official work was supplemented by research during his holiday time, travelling throughout the British Isles and Europe. 1867 saw him appointed director of the newly created branch, the Scottish Geological Survey. When Murchison founded the chair of geology in 1870 at the University of Edinburgh, Geikie was his choice as professor and he was appointed the following year.
Geikie's field and research work took him all over the British Isles and to many parts of Europe. He successfully combined his duties to both posts as well as devoting time to private research and writing. As well as his scientific writings, Geikie wrote several well-known biographical and historical books including Memoirs of Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1875), Andrew Crombie Ramsay (1895), Edward Forbes (1861), and Founders of Geology (1897). 1924 saw the publication of his own autobiography.
He went on to succeed Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay as head of the Geological Survey of Great Britain in 1881, which he held until his retiral in 1901. This saw him relocate to London and take a more active role in many scientific societies. Those relating to the Royal Society, he took particular interest in after his retiral, serving as secretary and president.
Noteable Publications
Chronology:
- 1865
- Scenery of Scotland
- Account of the Progress of the Geological Survey in Scotland
- 1873
- Physical Geography
- Colliers of Carrick
- 1875
- Life of Sir Roderick I Murchison, Bart.
- 1877
- Outlines of Field Geology
- Elementary Lessons in Field Geology
- 1882
- Text-book of Geology
- Geological Sketches at Home and Abroad
- 1886
- Classbook of Geology; Illustrated with Woodcuts
- Geology
- 1895
- Memoir of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay
- 1897
- Founders of Geology
- Ancient Volcanoes of Great Britain
- 1906
- History of the Geography of Scotland; with Maps and Illustrations
- 1907
- French Impression of Scotland and the Scots in the Year 1784
- 1909
- Charles Darwin as Geologist
- 1916
- Birds of Shakespeare
- 1917
- Annals of the Royal Society Club: the Record of a London Dining-Club in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
Honours, Qualifications and Appointments
Chronology:
- 1861
- Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Edinburgh
- 1865
- Elected Fellow, Royal Society of London
- 1867
- Appointed Director, Scottish Geological Survey
- 1870
- Appointed First Professor of Geology, the University of Edinburgh
- 1881
- Appointed Head, Geological Survey
- Awarded Murchison Medal
- 1890
- Appointed President, Geological Society
- Knighthood
- 1895
- Awarded Woolaston Meda
- 1896
- Awarded Royal Medal, Royal Society of London
- 1907
- Appointed Knight Commander, Order of the Bath
- 1910
- Appointed President, the Classical Association
Sources
Dictionary of Scientific Biography, Volume II , ( New York, Scribner's, 1981)
Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:
Correspondence: John Strong Newberry to John Perry, 1863-1900
The Correspondence: John Strong Newberry to John Perry sub-series consists of:
- 37 letters, alphabetically arranged (1863-1900)
Correspondence with Robert Boog-Watson, 1862-1863
Geological Survey notebook 'O O', 1891
Drawings and notes on the geology, largely of Ireland but also of Ayrshire. References are made to volcanic rock at Lizard and silurian.
Lecture on the 'Volcanic History of Britain', 1886
Notes for 4 lectures on the 'Volcanic History of Britain', given to the Royal Institution in 1886. Sir Archibald Geikie looked at the emergence of types of geological formations against a geological timeframe and how they have been affected by various processes, especially the action of volcanoes and materials produced by them, within the natural world. He used examples from numerous locations from different parts of the British Isles.
Letter to Robert Boog-Watson from Sir Archibald Geikie, 22 October 1862
Letter to Robert Boog-Watson from Sir Archibald Geikie. Geikie discusses Boog-Watson's geological mapping of the south end of Arran and compares it with his own mapping of the Isle of Bute, the Cumbrae Islands, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. He discusses Scotland's old red sandstone unconformity. He extends an invitation to join him in mapping Tinto Hill as soon as his expected working visit from Lennox is over.
Letter to Robert Boog-Watson from Sir Archibald Geikie, 10 December 1863
Letter to Robert Boog-Watson from Sir Archibald Geikie while on field study in Ayrshire. Geikie suggests that he writes a paper on the Arran deposit at Lamlash. He discusses his geological research in Ayrshire in detail and in particular glacial deposits. He reports a technical difficulty with his possible professorship. He mentions Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay's possible future movements and his current health.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Edward William Binney, 17 March 1865
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Edward William Binney reporting on permian rocks which he has seen. He says that there are displays of plutonic action. He says that the green earths and red oxides observed are the result of volcanic action in water. He continues with some detailed observations of rock formations found in Ayrshire and a report of fossil trees found at Laggan Bay on the Isle of Arran.
Notes on white-traps in Museum of Science and Art and Geological Survey Collection, the Office, Edinburgh, late 19th century
Notes on white-traps from various parts of Scotland (Ayrshire, Fife, Linlithgowshire) held either in the Museum of Science and Art or the offices of the Geological Survey in Edinburgh.