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 338 Collections and/or Records:
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie, 06 May 1874
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie reporting that he had cleared out the cupboard at Ramsay Lodge, as instructed, and had left the specimens in the greenhouse and returned the papers and the bust of Shakespeare to the office. He thanks Geikie for a present.
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 James Bennie, 20 February 1894
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie telling Geikie he has sent him a copy of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society . Bennie reports that he has received copies of some journals from Geikie.
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie, 27 January 1897
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from James Bennie sending some specimens of shells from the bottom of a Gayfield Lake. Bennie reports that there was considerable vegetable debris also found at the lake bottom which was probably pondweed and encrustations from the stems of the plants. Numerous ostracod were also found which he has mounted on cards and sent to another party. This layer was 3-4 feet deep. The same layer was not found in the adjacent Broughton Lake.
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, 26 January 1860
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson telling him that she has written to various people concerning the continued use of letters which were lent for the compilation of the 'Memoirs of Edward Forbes'. She informs him of the death of Captain Graves and encloses papers from Peter Colin Campbell (not attached).
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 Jessie Aitken Wilson, 04 December 1860
Letter to Sir Archibald Geikie from Jessie Aitken Wilson apologising for earlier abrupt behaviour due to a misunderstanding concerning mistakes made by the printer Thomas Constable [when printing 'Memoir of Edward Forbes'].