Happy birthday - Sir Charles Lyell born 14 November 1797

BGS Image ID: P517443

Charles Lyell, Bart. born 14 November 1797.

Sir Charles Lyell, a Scottish geologist was born 14 November 1797 near Kinnordy, near Kirriemuir. He was author  of 'Principles of geology', published in 1830, it was a major work at the time that supported James Hutton's view on Uniformitarianism. He was also a keen supporter of geological surveys.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) and Heriot-Watt University are joining forces to create a new centre for earth and marine science and technology. Based in Edinburgh it will be called the Sir Charles Lyell Centre and will be one of Europe's leading centres for research and expertise in the earth and marine sciences. The centre is scheduled to open by 2015.

Jointly funded by UK and Scottish funders, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Scottish Funding Council (SFC) and Heriot-Watt University, The Sir Charles Lyell Centre will promote innovative research at the core of geoscience, marine ecology, computing, mathematics and engineering. The Lyell Centre will create a world-leading research cluster bringing science and technology together to tackle major issues of natural resource and energy supply in a responsible and sustainable way.

Full press release on the new centre.

Bob McIntosh

Edith Cadmore and Margaret S. Walker. From Geologists' Association 'Carreck Archive'

Edith Cadmore and Margaret S. Walker. From Geologists' Association 'Carreck Archive'.
Edith Cadmore was on the Council of the Geologists' Association and was also Secretary for various GA field trips. 

Does anyone have information about Margaret S. Walker?

Bob McIntosh

Portrait of James Flanagan

BGS picture ID: P680252

This portrait of James Flanagan (d. 1859), a fossil collector for the Geological Survey of Ireland, was drawn in 1856 by George Victor Du Noyer (1817-1869) a geologist, antiquary and artist.
The portrait was sketched in commeration of the visit of the Director of the Geological Survey, Sir Roderick Murchison and was done at Ferriters Cove, County Kerry.

Flanagan and Du Noyer had originally met in 1835 when both were working for the Ordnance Survey in Ireland.

Andrew L Morrison

George Barrow (1853-1932). Geologist with the Geological Survey of Great Britain.

BGS image ID: P575833

George Barrow (1853-1932). Geologist with the Geological Survey of Great Britain. 

Worked at igneous and structural problems in the Eastern Highlands. He was the first to recognize and map zones of progressive metamorphism in the Dalradian of North-East Scotland, the 'Barrovian Zones'. Each zone was identified by the appearance of a set of distinctive index minerals. His work led to the present concept of metamorphic grade. 

Later in his career he became the District Geologist for London with a particular interest in water-supply and in the construction and maintenance of railways.

Another picture when he was in Scotland: The Bandits Lair.

Bob McIntosh

E M L Hendriks, self portrait



BGS image ID: P815510

Eileen Mary Lind Hendriks was born in 1887. She graduated from the University of Aberystwyth in 1919 with a BSc, later completing a PhD at the University of London. Between 1926 and 1928 she was employed on a temporary basis by the Geological Survey to assist in the preparation of a catalogue of the Survey’s photographs.This was published as "Classified Geological Photographs: From the Collection of the Geological Survey of Great Britain" (1928). In 1930 Hendriks attempted to become the first female geologist at the Geological Survey when she applied for a permanent position. She was unsuccessful and found it difficult to find geological employment. Hendriks continued her geological research well into the 1970s, focussing primarily on the geology of Cornwall and Devon. She died in 1978.

Andrew L Morrison

Edward Battersby Bailey as field geologist

BGS image ID: P225785

1881 Born July 1st at Kendal. Educated at Kendal Grammar School and at Clare College, Cambridge. (1st in Nat. Science & Physics.)
1902 Joined Geological Survey (Scotland). D.G. 1919.
1914-1918 Distinguished war service. Military Cross, Croix de Guerre with palms; Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur.
1929 Survey Service terminated 24/12/29.
1929 Appointed to Chair of Geology at Glasgow in succession to J.W. Gregory. Elected Professor 12/12/29. Term began 1/1/30, lectures 6/1/30.
1930 Apponted F.R.S.
1937-1945 Bailey returns as Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain.
1945 Knighted.
1965 Died 19th March.

Biographies and Obituaries
1930 Glasgow Herald 25/2/30.
1966 Obituary - Sir Edward Battersby Bailey. Born in 1881, died 19th March 1965. Proceedings of the Geologists Association. v. 77 p.157-159. 1966
1965 Richey, J.E. Obituary - Sir Edward Battersby Bailey, Kt.M.C., F.R.S. (Director of Geological Survey). Proceedings of the Geological Society. v. 1628 p.197-198. 1965

Bob McIntosh

Portrait of Henry De la Beche

BGS image ID: P718393

This portrait, on enamel, was painted by Henry Pierce  Bone (1779-1855) who was the son of noted enamel painter Henry Bone. A note on the back of the frame says that Bone presented it to the Museum of Practical Geology.

Henry Thomas De la Beche was born on 10 February 1796. He spent much of his early life at Lyme Regis and developed an interest in geology. He was responsible for the creation of the Geological Survey (then called the Ordnance Geological Survey) in 1835 and he remained Director up to his death on 13 April 1855. He was knighted in 1848.

Andrew L Morrison