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 7 Collections and/or Records:
Correspondence of Sir Archibald Geikie: Letters from Sir William James Lloyd Wharton, 1884-1900
The Correspondence of Sir Archibald Geikie: Letters from Sir William James Lloyd Wharton sub-series includes letters from:
- 18 letters, chronologically arranged (1884-1900)
- sample of obsidian
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie, 25 May 1885
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie describing examples of rocks showing evidence of glaciation and fossils which he has sent to Geikie by rail, and explaining which collections they have been borrowed from. He reports on locations in which he has found spore bearing shales and scorpion remains over the winter and spring.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Richard Baron, 15 August 1884
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Richard Baron giving Geikie a precis of the geological structure of the island of Madagascar, where he is a missionary. He asks Geikie if he would be able to identify some rock samples for him if he sent them to London, and offers to send fossils and specimens in return. He reports that gold has recently been found on the island.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Richard Baron, 24 June 1886
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Samuel Allport, 24 March 1877
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Samuel Allport asking for the address of a rock collector, employed by the Geological Survey, who would be able to procure him rock specimens from a number of locations.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Samuel Allport, 29 March 1877
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Samuel Allport declining his offer of rock specimens from the Edinburgh area, as these would be duplicates, and asking if it would be possible to send him some specimens from Fife.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Sir Robert Stawell Ball, 31 December 1900
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Sir Robert Stawell Ball asking Geikie if he could furnish him with a specimen of rock which shows the signs of glaciation for his forthcoming lecture.