Cambridge Library Collection - Earth Science
2 total works
William Buckland (1784–1856), Dean of Westminster, was an English geologist best known for his contributions to palaeontology. He became the first Reader in Geology at the University of Oxford in 1818. Buckland spent 1819–1822 investigating fossil remains in caves, in order to refine his concept of catastrophism. His research led him to the realisation that hyena remains in Kirkland Cave, Yorkshire, were the remains of an ancient ecosystem and were not relics of the Flood; this led to his being awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society of London in 1822. This volume, first published in 1823, contains a full account of Buckland's influential research in Kirkland Cave, which demonstrated for the first time the ability of scientific analysis to reconstruct events from deep time. Buckland's support for and influential revision of the concept of catastrophism is also illustrated in this volume.
The Life and Correspondence of William Buckland, D.D., F.R.S.
by Elizabeth Oke Gordon and William Buckland
Published 19 August 2010
First published in 1894, this biography details the life of renowned geologist William Buckland (1784–1856) who, along with Sedgwick and Lyell, was one of the pioneers of modern geological inquiry. While he is better known for attempting to correlate his geological findings with the Old Testament, Buckland's studies paved the way for Darwin's development of evolutionary theory. In the course of his illustrious career, Buckland was a Canon of Christ Church, was twice appointed President of the Geological Society, served as the first President of the British Association, and became Dean of Westminster. Penned by Buckland's daughter almost forty years after his death, The Life and Correspondence provides a more personal insight into Buckland's scientific endeavours. Gordon's biography is complemented by several illustrations, and the appendices include an extensive list of positions held by Buckland and his membership of learned societies, and a complete index of his publications.