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 16 Collections and/or Records:
Correspondence from Albert Jean Gaudry, 1897-1908
The Correspondence from Albert Jean Gaudry sub-series consists of:
- 12 letters, chronologically arranged (1897-1908)
Correspondence: from Duncan M Irvine to Alfred John Jukes-Browne, 1865-1899
The Correspondence: from Duncan M Irvine to Alfred John Jukes-Browne sub-series consists of:
- 44 letters, alphabetically arranged (1865-1899)
Correspondence from Emmanuel De Margarie, 1883-1907
The Correspondence from Emmanuel De Margarie sub-series consists of:
- 18 letters, chronologically arranged (1883-1907)
Correspondence from Gabriell Auguste Daubrée, 1874-1896
The Correspondence from Gabriell Auguste Daubrée sub-series consists of:
- 22 letters, chronologically arranged (1874-1896)
Correspondence from John Stuart Blackie, 1880-1882
The Correspondence from the John Stuart Blackie sub-series consists of:
- 11 letters written from1880-1882
- 8 press clippings from the Scotsman, most dated 1873, written by John Stuart Blackie
Correspondence from Joseph Beete Jukes and family, 1864-1871
The Correspondence from Joseph Beete Jukes and family series consists of:
- 18 letters, chronologically arranged (1864-1871)
Correspondence: GA Le Bel to G De Lorenzo, 1869-1914
The Correspondence: Albert Auguste de Lapparent to Charles Lapworth sub-series consists of:
- 36 letters, alphabetically arranged (1869-1914)
Correspondence of Sir Archibald Geikie: French geologists, Barrios, 1880-1906
Correspondence of Sir Archibald Geikie: French geologists, Barrios sub-series consists of:
- letters, particularly from Charles Barrios of the Faculty of Science, University of Lille, discussing such items as the 8th International Geological Congress in Paris, 1900, various scientific publications and French volcanoes.
Geological Survey notebook 'X X', 1900
Drawings and notes on the geology of areas of Scotland, including Aviemore, Inverness, Schehallion and parts of Fife, and to a lesser extent locations around Auvergne, France, with a list of excursionists who went there. References are made to raised beaches at the Firth of Tay, a fault line at St Monans, limeworks at Ceres, erosion near Wormit and necks at St Andrews.
Lecture on 'The Origin of the Scenery of the British Isles', 1884
Notes for 5 lectures on 'The Origin of the Scenery of the British Isles' given to the Royal Institution in 1884, along with printed abstracts. Sir Archibald Geikie focused on geological formations around the British Isles, with comparisons from European and North American locations, looking at the materials of which they are composed and the processes which went into their creation.