William Buckland
William Buckland ( born March 12, 1784 in Axminster, † August 24, 1856 in Islip ) was a leading English geologist and paleontologist. He was the scientific describer of Megalosaurus, one of the first three known dinosaurs. In 1823 he discovered also the world's first fossil of an individual of the genus Homo, called the Red Lady of Paviland.
Life and work
Buckland was born in Axminster, Devon in the UK. He studied at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he in 1813 as the successor of John Kidd a position as lecturer in mineralogy received the 1819 joined in geology. In 1818 he became a member of the Royal Society and from 1824 to 1826 and again from 1839 to 1841 he was president of the Geological Society of London. In 1822 he was elected a member of the Leopoldina. In 1847 he was appointed to the board of the British Museum and in 1848 was awarded the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society of London.
Buckland's reputation as a geologist and paleontologist based on his published scientific work. In his book Relics of the Deluge (1823 ), he comments on the fossil record of extinct animals as they were found in the caves of Kirkdale in Yorkshire, in regard to the biblical story of Noah's ark. Buckland was until he realized under the influence of Louis Agassiz, the importance of glaciers for shaping the landscape of the earth, an advocate of the Flood theory. In his inaugural lecture at Oxford (the " An explanation of the connection between geology and religion" was titled ), he named it as the goal of Geology: " to confirm the testimonies of natural religion; and to show that the developed by them facts with the reports of the Creation and the Flood match in the Mosaic writings. "
After the encounter with Louis Agassiz, he became an early representative of Agassiz ' glacier theory and then worked hard to find in the UK evidence of former glaciation.
William Buckland's son Francis was known for his Curiosities of Natural History.
Eccentricity
William Buckland was a colorful character and known as eccentric who basically held and field research in academic gown and cylinder and soirees like entertained with amusing lectures on his latest bone finds. He always wore a blue bag with him, which he stuffed with the move had picked geological finds. In its premises in Oxford and Westminster Buckland housing a multitude of sometimes exotic animals that were running around often free. Buckland was also known for its gastronomic experiments. He is said to have possessed the ambition to hindurchzuessen through the entire animal kingdom, by devouring a copy of any known type.
Works (selection)
- Vindiciae Geologicae; or the Connection of Geology with Religion Explained In to augural Lecture delivered before the University of Oxford, May 15th, 1819, on the Endowment of a Readership in Geology by HRH the Prince Regent (1820 )
- Reliquiae Diluvianae: or, observations on the organic remains contained in caves, fissures and diluvial gravel and on other geological phenomena, Attesting the Action of deluge of universal ( 1823)
- On Geology and mineralogy Considered with reference to natural theology (1836 )
Article
- Account of an Assemblage of Fossil Teeth and Bones of elephant, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, bear, tiger, hyena, and sixteen other animals, Discovered in a cave at Kirkdale, Yorkshire, in the year 1821 (1822)
- Notice on the Megalosaurus, or Great Fossil Lizard of Stonesfield (1824 )
- On the Fossil Remains of the Megatherium recently imported into England from South America ( 1832)
Online available items
- Geology and Mineralogy in relation to natural theology. From Rev. Dr William Buckland. From the English, from the second edition of the original Geology and Mineralogy Considered with reference to Natural Theology (one of the Bridgewater Treatises ), translated and provided with comments and additions, by Dr L. Agassiz. Volume One, Text. Neuchatel: Printed by Petit Pierre. The publishers of Edward Leibrock, bookseller in Braunschweig, in 1838 and 1839. Complete online edition 1838 full online edition 1839