Contents
Roderick Murchison
Defining the Silurian system and helping establish the Devonian and Permian.
The Silurian System · Permian system
- Born
- 19 February 1792
- Birthplace
- Ross and Cromarty
- Died
- 22 October 1871
More people
Roderick Murchison
Roderick Murchison was a Scottish geologist whose field surveys helped organise the geological timescale. He later directed the British Geological Survey.
Early life
Army training
Attended Durham School and the Royal Military College before serving in the Peninsular War.
A new direction
His wife Charlotte encouraged his interest in geology after he left the army.
Career
- 1825
First geological paper
Presented research on southern English rocks.
- 1831
Welsh border surveys
Began investigations that established the Silurian system.
- 1855
National survey
Became director-general of the British Geological Survey.
Selected work
The Silurian System
Described rock formations and their characteristic fossils.
Permian system
Named a geological system from fieldwork in Russia.
Siluria
Revisited his classification in a widely revised book.
Beyond work
Geographical societies
Helped found the Royal Geographical Society and served several terms as president.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Artistic portrait; Stephen Pearce. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.