![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Hutton_James_portrait_Raeburn.jpg/640px-Hutton_James_portrait_Raeburn.jpg&w=640&q=50)
James Hutton
Scottish geologist, physician, chemical manufacturer, naturalist, and experimental agriculturalist; (1726-1797) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Hutton MD (Edinburgh, (14 June 1726 – 26 March 1797) was a Scottish geologist, physician, naturalist, chemist and experimental farmer.
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
James Hutton | |
---|---|
![]() Hutton as painted by Sir Henry Raeburn | |
Born | 14 June 1726 |
Died | 26 March 1797 |
Citizenship | British |
Known for | Plutonism; Deep time |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Geology |
Close
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Siccar_Point_red_capstone_closeup.jpg/640px-Siccar_Point_red_capstone_closeup.jpg)
Hutton studied in medicine, but never practised it. Instead, he did scientific research, helped to start a chemical industry, and farmed his estate. He is one of the founders of modern geology.[1][2] He saw the Earth as the product of natural forces. What could be seen happening today, over long periods of time, could produce what we see in the rocks.
His book on the Theory of the Earth set out theories of geology and geologic time.[3] These ideas supported the theories of plutonism and uniformitarianism.