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 84 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Samuel Allport, 14 February 1874
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Samuel Allport asking him for a copy of his recent paper on the connection between metamorphism and volcanic action.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from T Belt, 22 January 1873
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from T Belt enclosing a reprint of his paper on the Lingula Flags of Wales in which he believes he was the first to suggest that the Menevian Group beds identified by John William Salter and H Hicks form the natural boundary of the Cambrian rocks.
Letters from Charles Kingsley to Archibald Geikie about the effects of ice
Letter from Kingsley to Archibald Geikie: Eversley 30 November 1868: giving a detailed account of his observations of the effect of ice on the geology of Deeside, Scotland.
Letters to Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay, 1843-1879
The Letters to Sir Andrew Crombie Ramsay sub-series consists of:
- 14 letters from a variety of European correspondents concerning geological papers and research (1843-1879).
Minute Book No IV, 17 October 1850 - 04 June 1857
Notes for lectures given in Dublin, late 19th century
Notes for 2 lectures given in Dublin. Sir Archibald Geikie looked at the evolution of scenery around the British Isles. He looked particularly at those elements formed by erosion, such as river valleys, using many locations as examples. He also looked at the formation of tablelands and other geological features and how these have impacted on the people and society in the localities.
Notes for lectures on 'Geographical Evolution', late 19th century
Notes on Examinations for the Falconer Fellowship, late 19th century
Notes about the two day oral and written examination in Geology and Paleontology for the Falconer Fellowship which was awarded to RA Lundie. Under the Deed of Foundation aspects of Zoology and Botany were also touched upon.
Notes taken by Ralph Richardson at lectures by Sir Archibald Geikie
Notes taken by Ralph Richardson at, with accompanying syllabus to, lectures delivered by Sir Archibald Geikie during his first session (1871-1872) as Murchison Professor of Geology at the University of Edinburgh. Originally in five separate parts, Richardson had them bound into one volume, which bears his bookplate.