William Smith (geologist)
| William Smith | |
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.jpg) William Smith
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| Born | 23 March 1769 Churchill, Oxfordshire |
| Died | August 28, 1839 (aged 70) |
| Nationality | English |
| Fields | Geology |
| Known for | Geological map |
William 'Strata' Smith (23 March 1769 – 28 August 1839) was an English geologist, who created the first nationwide geological map. He is known as the "Father of English Geology" for collating the geological history of Britain (England and Wales) and southern Scotland into a single record. At the time his map was published he was overlooked by the scientific community; his humble family and education meant he did not mix easily in learned society. His work was plagiarised, he was financially ruined, and he spent time in debtors' prison. It was only later in his life that Smith received recognition for his accomplishments.
The map [change]
In 1799 Smith produced the first large scale geologic map of the area around Bath, Somerset. Previously, he only knew how to draw the vertical extent of the rocks, but not how to display them horizontally. However, in the Somerset County Agricultural Society, he found a map showing the types of soils and vegetation around Bath and their geographical extent. The differing types were coloured. Using this technique, Smith could draw a geological map from his observations showing the outcrops of the rocks. He took a few rock types, each with its own colour. Then he estimated the boundaries of each of the outcrops of rock, filled them in with colour and ended up with a crude geological map.
In 1801, he drew a rough sketch of what would become "The map that changed the world".[1]
In 1815 he published the first geological map of Britain. Conventional symbols were used to mark canals, tunnels, tramways and roads, collieries, lead, copper and tin mines, together with salt and alum works. The various geological types were indicated by different colours; the maps were hand coloured. The map is remarkably similar to modern geological maps of England. He also published his Delineation of the strata of England in the same year. In another of his books Strata identified by organized fossils (London 1816–1819) he recognised that strata contained distinct fossil assemblages which could be used to match rocks across regions.[2]
In 1817 he drew a remarkable geological vertical section from Snowdon to London. Unfortunately, his maps were soon plagiarised and sold for prices lower than he was asking. He went into debt and finally became bankrupt.
On 31 August 1819 Smith was released from King's Bench Prison in London, a debtor's prison. He returned to his home of fourteen years at 15 Buckingham Street to find a bailiff at the door and his home and property seized. Smith then worked as an itinerant surveyor for many years. One of his employers, Sir John Johnstone, recognised him and took steps to get him the respect he deserved. Between 1824 and 1826 he lived and worked in Scarborough, and was responsible for the building of the Rotunda, a geological museum devoted to the Yorkshire coast. The Rotunda was re-opened as 'Rotunda – The William Smith Museum of Geology', on 9 May 2008.
References [change]
- ↑ Simon Winchester 2001. The map that changed the world: William Smith and the birth of modern geology. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0-14-028039-1
- ↑ Palmer, Douglas 2005. Earth time: exploring the deep past from Victorian England to the Grand Canyon. Wiley.
