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Geikie, Archibald, Sir, 28 December 1835 – 10 November 1924 (Professor of Geology, University of Edinburgh)

 Person

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 5 Collections and/or Records:

Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton, 17 January 1881

 Item
Identifier: Coll-74/11/5/6
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton, thanking him for his articles on weathering and postulating that the Grand Canyon was formed in this manner, and that he is preparing a section concerning this for Geikie's manual. He recommends William Henry Holmes' topographical drawings of the Grand Canyon and reports that photolithographs are being prepared. He gives details of the depths of the individual geological stratifications which can be observed at the Grand...
Dates: 17 January 1881

Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton, 16 March 1881

 Item
Identifier: Coll-74/11/5/8
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton enclosing copies of topographical drawings of the Grand Canyon by William Henry Holmes. He pontificates over what text he will eventually send to accompany the drawings and asserts that the Grand Canyon was formed during the Pliocene and the Quaternary geological periods rather than by erosion during the Tertiary period. He promises to forward copies of Holmes' drawings of the Kaibab region shortly. He reports that John W Powell...
Dates: 16 March 1881

Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton, 22 May 1882

 Item
Identifier: Coll-74/11/5/12
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton apologising that he has only been able to send final proofs of his atlas sheets for Tertiary History of the Grand Canyon District, ( 1882) at the current time. He apologises for being unable to review Geikie's forthcoing books due to his forthcoming field work in the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) and pontificates that Grove Karl Gilbert will do a better job in the long run. He reports that Gilbert and...
Dates: 22 May 1882

Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton, 23 January 1883

 Item
Identifier: Coll-74/11/5/13
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton discussing his field trip to the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii). He reports on the large scale of the ultra basic basalt lava flows of the Mauna Loa eruption and the lack of cinder cones. He reports on the ferruginous nature of the lavas and their high olivine content along with observed layers of hematite and magnetite. He describes the volcano's impressive topography and its inability to support running water. He...
Dates: 23 January 1883

Letter to Sir John Scott Keltie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton, 22 May 1882

 Item
Identifier: Coll-74/11/5/11
Scope and Contents Letter to Sir John Scott Keltie from Capt Clarence Edward Dutton apologising that the advance atlas sheets for Tertiary History of the Grand Canyon District, ( 1882) have not been sent to him due to a hold up at the printer's. He reports that he will shortly leave for the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) but will leave instructions for them to be sent on. This may not be for another 2 weeks due to the scale of the print job. He tells Keltie that he hopes Sir Archibald...
Dates: 22 May 1882