What’s on : Lectures

William Smith, Father of English Geology: his maps

Lectures
Date
3 Mar 2015
Start time
7:30 PM
Venue
Tempest Anderson Hall
Speaker
John Henry
William Smith, Father of English Geology: his maps

Event Information

William Smith, Father of English Geology: his maps

John Henry, Chair of the History of Geology Group, Geological Society of London

William Smith, a self taught geologist, produced the first geological map of a country 200 years ago. This 8×6 foot map, ‘A Delineation of the Strata of England and Wales with part of Scotland’, compares remarkably well with modern geological maps. Smith understood the importance of geology to the economy and applied to prospecting for coal, minerals and water, to construction of canals and sea defences, and to land improvement for agriculture. For his map and his work he is known as the Father of English Geology. Smith lived the last 15 years of his life near and in Scarborough, where he inspired the design of the Rotunda Museum, the first geological museum in the world. In 1825 he gave the first series of public lectures on geology at the invitation of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, which will host a lecture entitled ‘William Smith, Father of English Geology; his Maps’ by John Henry, Chair of the History of Geology Group of the Geological Society. As well as his iconic map of 1815, Smith produced a rare 4 sheet geological map of Yorkshire which will be on display at this lecture. For further information on events celebrating the Bicentenary of William Smith’s pioneering map, see www.geolsoc.org.uk/Events/William-Smith-Bicentenary.

Report

Smith was born in Oxfordshire in 1769. After apprenticeship to a surveyor, he became a canal engineer. This, together with an early interest in fossils, gave him an understanding of the sequence of rock strata which make up the landscape. An enforced career change to freelance geologist allowed him to develop maps illustrating his discoveries. In 1815, with help from map maker, John Carey, he produced his famous Delineation of the Strata of England & Wales with part of Scotland. The Geological Society failed to give him recognition, and published their own version. Smith’s enterprise was a commercial failure, and he was committed to debtors’ prison. On his release, Smith travelled north, working at a variety of jobs and preparing further maps. In 1824 he accepted an invitation to lecture to the YPS. He lived to see the recognition of his life’s work, being awarded the Wollaston medal by the Geological Society in 1831.

Margaret Leonard