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William Smith (geologist)
geologist credited with the first nationwide map (1769-1839) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William 'Strata' Smith (23 March 1769 – 28 August 1839) was an English geologist, who created the first nationwide geological map.
William Smith | |
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![]() William Smith | |
Born | (1769-03-23)23 March 1769 Churchill, Oxfordshire |
Died | 28 August 1839(1839-08-28) (aged 70) |
Nationality | English |
Known for | Geological map |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Geology |
Influences | the whole of stratigraphy |
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Like another great scientist of his time, Michael Faraday, he was the son of a blacksmith. His geological discoveries were made when, as a young man, he was a surveyor, and so travelled the country. Smith's greatest discovery was that sedimentary rocks of a similar age held fossils of a similar type. So he could identify them when they were at the surface in different parts of the country.
Smith put together the historical geology of Britain (England and Wales) and southern Scotland into a single record. At the time his map was published he was almost unknown to the scientific community. His humble family and education meant he did not mix easily in learned society. His work was plagiarised, he was financially ruined, and he spent time in debtors' prison. It was only later in his life that Smith got recognition for what he had done.