Sir Archibald Geikie, O.M., died at Haslemere on November 11th, 1921, at the age of 881.
After completing his education at the High School and University of Edinburgh, he was, at the early age of 202, appointed an assistant to the Geological Survey, to which he was attached in one capacity or another until his retirement some 46 years later.
In 1867, on the creation of a special branch for Scotland he was appointed Director of that department, and retained the position until, in 1881, he succeeded Sir Andrew Ramsey as Director-General of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom, and as Director of the Museum of Practical Geology. In the meantime, in 1871, he was also appointed to the Murchison Professorship of Geology and Mineralogy in the University of Edinburgh. This was particularly appropriate, for in 1858 at the age of 23, he had published a little book, ‘The Story of a Boulder, or Gleanings from the Notebook of a Geologist,’ which had attracted the attention of Sir Roderick Murchison, then Director of the Geological Survey, and promoted an interest in the young geologist which lasted throughout Sir Roderick’s life.
Incidentally it may he mentioned that Geikie had occasion as the result of his work in Scotland to modify the views put forward by Murchison and others as to the geological structure of the Highland rock. His own outlook was that of the newer school of geologists who were beginning to attach importance to the operation of the ordinary forces of nature in arranging the earth’s surface, in preference to the earlier theory which postulated cataclysmic movements. This change of view was more or less the outcome of his observations as a field geologist, and was made public as early as 1865, in his ‘Scenery of Scotland.’ He was, moreover, one of the first field geologists in England to appreciate the important hearing of microscopic investigation as an adjunct to work in the field, and under his direction the Jermyn Street Museum was enriched by the addition of many thousands of slices of rock to the collection already existing. This was only one of the many activities he inspired after succeeding to the post of Director-General of the Geological Survey and Director of the Museum of Practical Geology in 1881.
His own output of books and treatises was great, and the many memoirs and maps issued by the Survey during his tenure of office afford an index of his capacity as an organizer. In the course of his long career he naturally acquired many honours and distinctions. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society while in his 30th year, and in course of time held the Presidency. He was on three occasions President of the Geological Society, and held the same office in the British Association. He was awarded honorary degrees by most of the British Universities and several on the continent. He received gold medals from a number of Societies, including the Gold Medal of the Institution in 1907. He was knighted in 1891, received the K.C.B. in 1907, and the Order of Merit in 1914.
Sir Archibald Geikie was elected an Honorary Member of the Institution in 1907.
Vol. 34, Trans IMM 1924-25, pp.567-68
- 1 = Born 1836
- 2 = c1856
