The History of the Geological Society of London

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

"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

1 001 002 003 004 005 006

[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