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 50 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Henry Walter Bates, 31 October 1874
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Henry Walter Bates telling Geikie that has sent him a copy of an address by Sir Henry Rawlinson (not attached) which will give him information concerning Sir Roderick Impey Murchison's connection with the Royal Geographical Society. He gives an additional reference and promises further information will follow.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Henry William Bristow, 09 June 1861
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Henry William Bristow thanking Geikie for his gift of a copy of Memoir of Edward Forbes, FRS, ( 1861) and praising the content.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Henry William Bristow, 18 May 1875
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Henry William Bristow thanking him for his gift of a copy of his work Life of Sir Roderick I. Murchison, Bart. : based on his journals and letters with notices of his scientific contemporaries and a sketch of the rise and growth of Palaeozoic geology in Britain, ( 1875) . He hopes that the publication will not reopen the historical controversy between Sir Roderick Impey Murchison and Adam Sedgwick.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Brotherstone Laughton, 02 July 1861
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Brotherstone Laughton introducing himself as the only remaining member of the Oineromathic Club, suggesting the publication of some poems by Edward Forbes, and offering some for this purpose.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson, 24 January 1860
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson concerning the ownership of letters which her late brother George Wilson had borrowed as background material for the 'Memoirs of Edward Forbes'. She suggests writing to the owners to let them know that she has transferred them to Sir Archibald Geikie, and writes a detailed action list. She discusses the health of Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay and her dislike of Emily M Yelverton.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson, 30 January 1860
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson enclosing a letter from Emily M Yelverton (not attached) which places obstacles in the way of the completion of 'Memoirs of Edward Forbes'. A discussion follows concerning the intellectual ownership of personal letters which are to be used as source material and possible methods of pacifying Emily M Yelverton.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson, 03 August 1860
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson enclosing part of her brother George Wilson's unfinished 'Memoir of Edward Forbes' (not attached). She suggests some people who might be able to provide information concerning the Edward Forbes' period of residence in Paris.
Letter to [Sir Archibald Geikie] from John Hughes Bennett, 19 October 1860
Letter to [Sir Archibald Geikie] from John Hughes Bennett detailing Edward Forbes' periods of study in Paris.
Letter to [Sir Archibald Geikie] from Joseph Beete Jukes, 22 February 1860
Letter to [Sir Archibald Geikie] from Joseph Beete Jukes offering to help with the proposed biography of Edward Forbes and apologising for the dirty paper he has used.
Letter to [Sir Archibald Geikie] from Joseph Beete Jukes, 01 May 1860
Letter to [Sir Archibald Geikie] from Joseph Beete Jukes telling him that he was not acquainted with Edward Forbes between 1839 and 1846 and so will be unable to help with research for that period. He offers post 1846 anecdotes and urges that he be sent reminders for these.