THE HISTORY

OF THE

GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

OF LONDON


HORACE B. WOODWARD, F.R.S.


London:

The Geological Society

1907

336 + 20 pages,

This electronic edition prepared by Dr. David C. Bossard
from original documents in his personal library.

September, 2006

Copyright © 2006 by Dr. David C. Bossard.  All rights reserved.



"Geology is the science which investigates the successive changes that have taken place in the organic and inorganic kingdoms of nature; it inquires into the causes of these changes, and the influence which they have exerted in modifying the surface and external structure of our planet."
Lyell, Principles of Geology
First Edition, 1830, and
Twelfth Edition, 1875.

CONTENTS.

PREFACE  v.   v  vi  vii  viii  ix  x

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTORY

ACADEMIES AND LEARNED SOCIETIES -- EARLY GEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES 
001  002  003  004  005  006

[001] The Geological Society of London was founded on November 13, 1807, about the middle of 'The Heroic Age of Geology,' a period taken by Zittel to extend from 1790 to 1820.

[005] [William] Smith's own pulications were reviewed by Dr. W.H.Fitton, who made clear his title to be regarded as the author of the first geological map of England and Wales, and as the geologist who originally established the sequence of strata in this country, and the fact that they could be identified by their organized fossils.

CHAPTER II


ORIGIN, FOUNDATION, AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
 6  006  007  008  009  010  011  012  013  014  015  016  017  018  019  020  021  022  023  024  025  026  027  028  029  030  031  032  033  034  035  036  037  038  039
 
THE ASKESIAN SOCIETY -- THE BRITISH MINERALOGICAL SOCIETY -- THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, ITS FOUNDERS AND THEIR AIMS -- PATRON -- REGULATIONS, COMMITTEES, AND RESOLUTIONS -- EARLY PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS -- NOMENCLATURE -- APARTMENTS IN TEMPLE -- PROPOSAL TO CONSOLIDATE THE GEOLOGICAL WITH THE ROYAL SOCIETY -- MAPS -- MUSEUM AND LIBRARYAPARTMENTS IN LINCOLN'S INN FIELDSTRUSTEES -- THE FIRST COUNCIL

[014] It will be noted that the founders [of the Geological Society] were men of culture and wide sympathies, although not all of them were geologists in the strict sense.


CHAPTER III

THE OLD MASTERS. THE PUBLICATION OF 'TRANSACTIONS'
39   039  040  041  042  043  044  045  046  047  048  049  050  051  052  053  054  055  056

THE OLD MASTERS -- W. D. CONYBEARE AND THE OXFORD GEOLOGISTS --  "TRANSACTIONS" OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY-- SALE OF SPECIMENS -- THOMAS WEBSTER -- APARTMENTS IN BEDFORD STREET, COVENT GARDEN -- COUNCIL, 1817 -- THE TEACHING OF GEOLOGY -- SCIENCE AS A PROFESSION


CHAPTER IV

GEOLOGICAL MAPS. NEW SERIES OF 'TRANSACTIONS'
56   056  057  058  059  060  061  062  063  064  065  066  067  068

WILLIAM SMITH'S AND GREENOUGH'S GEOLOGICAL MAPS -- BUCKLAND AND SEDGWICK -- MUSEUM -- NEW SERIES OF 'TRANSACTIONS' -- GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CLUB

[045 - regarding article ny James Parkinson in the first volume of Transactions of the Geological Society (1811)] 'The study of fossil organised remains has hitherto been directed too exclusively to the consideration of the specimens themselves; and hence has been considered rather as an appendix to botany and zoology than as (what it really is) a very important branch of geological inquiry.' Referring to 'the formation and structure of the earth,' he said, 'To derive any information of consequence from them on these subjects, it is necessary that their examination should be connected with that of the several strata in which they are found.'

In a footnote he stated: 'This mode of conducting our inquiries was long since recommended by Mr. W. Smith [Emphases added - dcb], who first noticed that certain fossils are peculiar to, and are only found lodged in particular strata; and who first ascertained the constancy in the order of superposition, and the continuity of the strata of this island. [emphases in original]'

Parkinson further mentioned that -- 'Already have these examinations, thus carried on, taught us the following highly instructive facts. That exactly similar fossils are found in distant parts of the same stratum, not only where it traverses this island, but where it appears again on the opposite coast; that in strata of considerable comparative depth fossils are found, which are not discovered in any of the superincumbent beds;' and he added that -- 'These general facts lead us to hope that geology may derive considerable assistance from an examination of fossils, made in connection with that of the strata to which they belong.'

Although relegated to a footnote, it is satisfactory to find acknowledgment of the work of William Smith, whose labours at this time were only beginning to be known and appreciated outside the small circle of his personal friends.

[052] Fitton, in reviewing the third volume of the Society's Transactions, observed :

'It has been remarked by critics that the want of education is sometimes of advantage to a man of genius, who is thus left free to the suggestions of invention, and is neither biassed in favour of erroneous maxims, nor deterred from the trial of his own powers by names of high authority. On this principle it is evident that the members of the Geological Society have derived great benefit from their want of systematical instruction. At the time of its formation there was, in fact, no English school of Mineralogy where they could imbibe either information or prejudice. They were neither Vulcanists nor Neptunists, nor Wernerians nor Huttonians, but plain men, who felt the importance of a subject about which they knew very little in detail; and, guided only by a sincere desire to learn, they have produced, with a rapidity that is truly surprising, publications of the greatest interest and importance upon the subjects to which they have devoted their attention.'

In an earlier review Fitton had remarked that the papers were characterised by 'strict experiment or observation, at the expense of all hypothesis, or even of moderate theoretical speculation.' This was no doubt a right view of the Society's publications at the time; and yet it is interesting to bear in mind the lamentation of William Smith, uttered in 1816, that the theory of geology was in possession of one class of men, the practice in another.




CHAPTER V

THE CHARTER. SOMERSET HOUSE. THE 'PROCEEDINGS'
68   068  069  070  071  072  073  074  075  076  077  078  079  080  081  082

THE CHARTER -- THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY -- THE NEW PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL, 1826 -- APARTMENTS IN SOMERSET HOUSE -- ANNIVERSARY ADDRESSES -- DISCUSSIONS -- COUNCIL, I 827 -- MURCHISON AND FITTON -- THE 'PROCEEDINGS'

CHAPTER VI

EARLY GEOLOGICAL BOOKS. THE WOLLASTON MEDAL AND THE FATHER OF ENGLISH GEOLOGY. SEDGWICK AND MURCHISON ON CAMBRIAN AND SILURIAN
82   082  083  084  085  086  087  088  089  090  091  092  093  094  095  096  097  098  099  100

GEOLOGY OF ENGLAND AND WALES BY CONYBEARE AND WILLIAM PHILLIPS  --  SCROPE  --  SOWERBY'S MINERAL CONCHOLOGY -- JAMESON -- BAKEWELL  --  BRANDE  --  GREENOIJGH  --  URE -- LYELL -- MACCULLOCH -- DE LA BECHE -- JOHN PHILLIPS -- LONDON UNIVERSITY -- WOLLASTON MEDAL -- SEDGWICK AND WILLIAM SMITH -- SEDGWICK AND MURCHISON ON CAMBRIAN AND SILURIAN -- DISCUSSIONS -- GEOLOGICAL DINNERS -- OTHER GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES

[083] In the days of the Sowerbys, fossils were not collected with that regard to exact locality and geological position which is at present essential.

[084] In referring to the original aims of the Society, Lyell remarked that

To multiply and record observations, and patiently await the result at some future period, was the object proposed by them; and it was their favourite maxim that the time was not yet come for a general system of geology, but that all must be content for many years to be exclusively engaged in furnishing materials for future generalisations. By acting up to these principles with consistency, they in a few years disarmed all prejudice, and rescued the science from the imputation of being a dangerous, or at best but a visionary, pursuit. [Geology, 2nd ed. 1832, p. 81.]

[084] Undoubtedly the best of the early text-books was that of Robert Bakewell (1768-1843), entitled 'An Introduction to Geology, illustrative of the General structure of the Earth...'. This work was gradually improved until it reached a fifth edition in 1838.

[086] Sedgwick observed: 'There is one safe rule in all our inquiries, whether they be simple or complicated. Effects similar in kind to those which are produced now, must in all former times have been produced by some corresponding power of nature.'


CHAPTER VII

THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. THE DEVONIAN SYSTEM
100   100  101  102  103  104  105  106  107  108  109  110  111  112  113

THE GEOLOGICAL AND ORDNANCE SURVEYS -- COLONEL COLBY -- COLOURING OF GEOLOGICAL MAPS -- DE LA BECHE -- GEOLOGICAL MAP OF DEVON -- SEDGWICK, MURCHISON, AND LONSDALE -- DEVONIAN SYSTEM -- GODWIN-AUSTEN -- PORTLOCK -- SOPWITH -- MUSEUM OF PRACTICAL GEOLOGY


CHAPTER VIII

CATALOGUES OF FOSSILS.  EARLY DISCOVERIES OF VERTEBRATA
114   114  115  116  117  118  119  120  121  122  123  124  125  126  127  128  129  130  131  132  133  134

CATALOGUES OF FOSSILS -- EARLY COLLECTORS -- MARY ANNING -- STONESFIELD SLATE -- EXTINCT MONSTERS -- BUCKLAND AND HIS HOME -- ETHELDRED BENETT -- W. C. WILLIAMSON -- ZONES -- CHARLESWORTH -- MANTELL -- ANNIVERSARY DINNERS  -- FITTON'S 'STRATA BELOW THE CHALK' -- LIBRARY AND MUSEUM -- DARWIN -- COUNCIL, 1837 -- FALCONER AND CAUTLEY  -- OWEN -- GREENOUGH'S GEOLOGICAL MAP (SECOND EDITION)  -- COAL-MEASURES -- HUGH MILLER AND THE OLD RED SANDSTONE

[115] The most notable collector during the early part of the nineteenth century was Mary Anning (1799-1847), daughter of a cabinetmaker of Lyme Regis, who had supplemented the profits of carpentry with those derived from the sale of fossils. Losing her father in 1810, when she was little over ten years of age, Mary Anning began collecting specimens and achieved remarkable success. Moreover, as De Ia Beche remarked, 'she exhibited great talent in developing the fossils. In 1811 she discovered remains that proved to belong to Ichthyosaurus, a fossil reptile not previously recorded from this country.' Ten years later she obtained remains of an entirely new Saurian which was described by Conybeare as Plesiosaurus; and in 1828 she discovered the remains of a Pterodactyl, described by Buckland, and now known as Dimorphodon macronyx. She also found numerous Cephalopods (Belemnoseia) with their fossil ink-bags. The ink appeared to be so well preserved that Buckland induced Sir Francis Chantrey to make a drawing with it, and the material proved to be of excellent quality. The drawing (head of an Ichthyosaurus) is now deposited in the Society's Museum.. A stained-glass window was erected to the memory of Mary Anning in the parish church of Lyme Regis, by Fellows of the Geological Society; and an oil painting of her is suspended in the Museum.

CHAPTER IX

THE GLACIAL PERIOD. THE CAMBRO-SILURIAN CONTROVERSY
134   134  135  136  137  138  139  140  141  142  143  144  145  146  147  148  149  150  151  152  153  154  155

GLACIAL DRIFT -- JAMES MITCHELL -- AGASSIZ, BUCKLAND, AND LYELL ON THE ANCIENT GLACIERS OF BRITAIN -- DISCUSSIONS -- WILLIAM HOPKINS -- MOXON'S 'GEOLOGIST' -- W. J. HAMILTON -- PHOTOGRAPHY -- RETIREMENT OF LONSDALE -- SEDGWICK AND MURCHISON ON CAMBRIAN AND SILURIAN -- H. WARBURTON -- J. W. SALTER -- THE RAY SOCIETY -- H. E. STRICKLAND -- ROBERT CHAMBERS -- D. T. ANSTED

CHAPTER X

THE 'QUARTERLY JOURNAL'
155   155  156  157  158  159  160  161  162  163  164  165  166  167  168  169  170

THE 'QUARTERLY JOURNAL ' -- CATALOGUES OF FOSSILS -- JOHN MORRIS -- CHARLESWORTH'S 'LONDON GEOLOGICAL JOURNAL'  -- COUNCIL, 1847 -- DR. BOWERBANK -- THE PALAEONTOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY -- LONDON CLAY CLUB -- GREAT COLLECTORS OF FOSSILS -- S. P. PRATT -- B.BRODIE -- PALAEOBOTANY -- PRINCE ALBERT -- THE KING OF SILURIA


CHAPTER XI

THE RISE OF PETROLOGY. CLOSE OF THE CAMBRO-SILURIAN CONTROVERSY
170   170  171  172  173  174  175  176  177  178  179  180  181  182  183  184  185  186  187  188  189  190

MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE OF ROCKS -- H. C. SORBY -- DAVID FORBES -- GEOLOGICAL DINNERS -- DANIEL SHARPE -- PRESTWICH AND EASTER EXCURSIONS -- THE END OF THE 'TRANSACTIONS' -- A. G. BAIN -- MANTELL AND THE ELGIN REPTILES -- OWEN AND HUXLEY -- FINAL CONTROVERSY ON CAMBRIAN AND SILURIAN -- THE TERM ORDOVICIAN

CHAPTER XII

THE SOUTHERN UPLANDS AND THE NORTHWEST HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND
190   190  191  192  193  194  195  196  197  198  199  200  201  202  203  204  205

WORK IN NORTH WALES, THE LAKE DISTRICT, AND THE SOUTHERN UPLANDS OF SCOTLAND -- J. CARRICK MOORE -- HARKNESS -- H. A. NICHOLSON -- WORK IN THE NORTH -- WEST HIGHLANDS -- C. W. PEACH AND THE DURNESS FOSSILS -- MURCHISON AND JAMES NICOL -- MURCHISON AND GEIKIE -- LAPWORTH AND THE 'SECRET OF THE HIGHLANDS' -- METAMORPHISM -- GODWIN-AUSTEN ON COAL-MEASURES -- RAMSAY ON PERMIAN BRECCIAS -- COUNCIL, 1857 -- MILITARY AND NAVAL GEOLOGISTS  -- CHARLES MOORE AND OTHERS ON RHAETIC BEDS -- ABSTRACTS OF PROCEEDINGS


CHAPTER XIII

ANTIQUITY OF MAN.  PALAEONTOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE
205   205  206  207  208  209  210  211  212  213  214  215  216  217

ORMEROD's INDEX -- THE 'GEOLOGIST' AND THE 'GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE' -- THE GEOLOGISTS' ASSOCIATION AND SOME PROVINCIAL GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES -- GREENOUGH'S GEOLOGICAL MAP (THIRD EDITION) -- BRIXHAM CAVE -- FALCONER, PENGELLY, AND BUSK  -- FLINT IMPLEMENTS --  PRESTWICH  --  SIR JOHN EVANS -- LYELL'S 'ANTIQUITY OF MAN' -- DARWIN'S 'ORIGIN OF SPECIES' -- HUXLEY ON HOMOTAXIS -- NOMENCLATURE -- PHYLOGENY AND HOWOEOMORPHY


CHAPTER XIV

Eozoon Canadense AND THE LAURENTIAN ROCKS. THE OLDER ROCKS OF PEMBROKESHIRE. PETROLOGY
217   217  218  219  220  221  222  223  224  225  226  227  228

Eozoon Canadense AND THE LAURENTIAN ROCKS -- H. B. HOLL -- HENRY HICKS AND RESEARCHES IN PEMBROKESHIRE -- THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY -- PETROLOGY -- SAMUEL ALLPORT -- J. CLIFTON WARD -- J. ARTHUR PHILLIPS -- THE MINERALOGICAL. SOCIETY -- VOLCANIC ROCKS OF SKYE -- NOMENCLATURE OF ROCKS -- EARTHQUAKES -- COSMOGONY -- GEOLOGICAL TIME

CHAPTER XV

THE DEVONIAN QUESTION. DENUDATION. ORIGIN OF SCENERY. GLACIAL GEOLOGY
228   228  229  230  231  232  233  234  235  236  237  238  239  240  241  242

JUKES ON DEVONIAN -- ROBERT ETHERIDGE -- A. CHAMPER-NOWNE -- HICKS --  -- JUKES ON RIVER VALLEYS -- TORRENTIAL ACTION  --  SUBAERIAL DENUDATION  --  RAMSAY ON GLACIAL ORIGIN OF CERTAIN LAKES -- SIR A. GEIKIE ON LAND-ICE -- T. F. JAMIESON -- GLEN ROY -- S. V. WOOD, JUN. -- GLACIAL GEOLOGY -- ADVANCES IN GENERAL GEOLOGY -- ECONOMIC GEOLOGY


CHAPTER XVI

ATTENDANCE OF LADIES. THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY. MEDALS AND FUNDS. GEOLOGICAL LITERATURE
242   242  243  244  245  246  247  248  249  250  251  252  253  254  255  256  257  258  259  260  261  262

ADMISSION OF LADIES TO MEETINGS -- THE MUSEUM AND LIBRARY -- THE MURCHISON MEDAL -- REMOVAL TO BURLINGTON HOUSE -- PROPOSALS TO TRANSFER THE MUSEUM -- THE LYELL MEDAL -- THE BARLOW-JAMESON FUND -- THE BIGSBY MEDAL INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS IN 1888 -- W. T. BLANFORD  --  J. W. HULKE -- THE PRESTWICH MEDAL -- THE DANIEL-PIDGEON FUND -- COUNCIL MEETINGS -- NUMBER OF FELLOWS -- SELECTION OF PAPERS -- LITERATURE OF GEOLOGY -- BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND INDEXES -- CONCLUSION -- COUNCIL, 1907


APPENDIX

CHARTER OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON  263   263

LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY IN ORDER OF ELECTION FROM 1807 TO THE INCORPORATION OF THE SOCIETY IN 1825: SUPPLEMENTED BY LIST OF FELLOWS AND FOREIGN MEMBER ELECTED DURING THE SESSION 1825-26, PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST NUMBER OF THE 'PROCEEDINGS' OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  268  268

LIST OF PRESIDENTS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY, WITH CONTENTS OF THE ADDRESSES  286  286

LIST OF SECRETARIES OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  296   296

LIST OF FOREIGN SECRETARIES OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  298  298

LIST OF TREASURERS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  298  298

LIST OF MEMBERS AND FELLOWS WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE COUNCIL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  299   299
 
LIST OF PERMANENT OFFICIALS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  308   308

MEMORANDUM OF THE DATES OF PUBLICATION AND PRICES OF THE 'TRANSACTIONS' OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY  311   311

LIST OF BENEFACTORS TO THE SOCIETY  312   312

AWARDS OF THE WOLLASTON MEDAL  317   317

AWARDS OF THE BALANCE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE 'WOLLASTON DONATION FUND'  318   318

AWARDS OF THE MURCHISON MEDAL  319   319

AWARDS OF THE BALANCE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE 'MURCHISON GEOLOGICAL FUND'  320   320

AWARDS OF THE LYELL MEDAL  320   320

AWARDS OF THE BALANCE OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE 'LYELL GEOLOGICAL FUND'  321  321

AWARDS OF THE BIGSBY MEDAL  322   322

AWARDS OF THE PRESTWICH MEDAL  322   322

AWARDS OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE 'BARLOW-JAMESON FUND' 322   322

AWARDS OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE 'DANIEL-PIDGEON FUND'  323   323

INDEX  325  
325  326  327  328  329  330  331  332  333  334  335  336




PORTRAITS AND MEDALS

NOTE: High resolution (400 ppi) images of these images are provided here.

facing
page
Click for plate at 100 ppi
DESCRIPTION
frontispiece

The Rev. William Buckland, age 59
From a painting by R. ANSDELL, R. A., about 1843, in the possession of the Geological Society.
10

Dr. William Babbington
From an engraving in the possession of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society.
12

GEORGE BELLAS GREENOUGH
From an engraving in the possession of the Geological Society.
14

WILLIAM PHILLIPS
From an engraving in the possession of the Geological Society
36

Dr. JOHN MACCIJLLOCH
From the engraving in the possession of the Geological Society of portrait by R. B. FAULKNER.
40

The Rev. WILLIAM DANIEL CONYBEARE
From a painting in the possession of his grandson, the
Rev. J. W. EDWARD CONYBEARE.
62

The Rev. ADAM SEDGWICK, aet. 82
From a drawing by LOWES DICKINSON, 1867, reproduced in the 'Catalogue of the Collection of Cambrian and Silurian Fossils,' 1873. 
78

Sir RODERICK IMPEY MURCHISON
From an engraving in the possession of the Geological Society, of painting by W. H. PICKERSGILL.
80

Dr. WILLIAM HENRY FITTON, aet. 8o
From a photograph taken in 186o, in the possession of the Royal Society.
82

GEORGE P0ULETT SCROPE
From a photograph in the possession of the Geological Society.
86

Sir CHARLES LYELL
From a photograph in the possession of the Geological Society 
90

THE WOLLASTON MEDAL

92

WILLIAM SMITH, aet. 69
From a painting by M. FOUREAU, engraved and publis/w.d in the 'Memoirs' of W. Smith, 1844 
106

Sir HENRY THOMAS DE LA BECHE
From an engraving in the possession of the Geological Society. 
108

ROBERT A. C. GODWIN-AUSTEN
From a photograph published in the 'Life and Letters of Sir Joseph Prestwitck,' 1899.
 
112

Professor JOHN PHILLIPS, aet. 6o 
From a photograpk taken in 186o, in the possession of the Royal Society 
122

Dr. GIDEON ALGERNON MANTELL
From a painting by J. J. MASQUERIER, engraved and published in 'Thoughts on a Pebble,' 1849.
128

Dr. HUGH FALCONER
From a photograph published in the 'Palaeontological Memoirs'of H. Falconer, 1868
148

Professor EDWARD FORBES
From an engraving published in the 'Memoir' of E. Forbes, 1861.
162

Sir JOSEPH PRESTWICH
From the 'Life and Letters of Sir J. Prestwich,' 1899. 
228

Professor JOSEPH BEETE JUKES
From a photograph. 
234

Sir ANDREW CROMBIE RAMSAY
From the 'Memoir' of Sir A. C. Ramsay, 1895.
247

THE MURCHISON MEDAL

250

THE LYELL MEDAL
 
252

THE BIGSBY MEDAL
 
254

THE PRESTWICH MEDAL
 
256

Dr. WILLIAM THOMAS BLANFORD
From a photograph.
262

Sir ARCHIBALD GEIKIE
From a photograph