Abstract
George Bellas Greenough (1778–1855), co-founder and first President of the Geological Society of London, was less an original researcher but rather a most diligent gatherer of little pieces of information, which he compiled in numerous notebooks. His geological ideas had been greatly influenced by the German professor Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752–1840), an admirer of Jean-Andre de Luc (1727–1817). Probably, Greenough's most important published contributions to geology were his annual addresses, which he gave to the Geological Society in his function as the Society's president, discussing critically the previous year's scientific results. In these speeches, rhetoric brilliance — owing to his training as a lawyer — added to the weight of his official office. Among the topics which interested him most was the question of ‘central heat’ as prerequisite for the generation of larger amounts of magma, and the question of rapid ‘elevation’ of land by earthquakes and its implication for a dynamic Earth. Both phenomena Greenough found exceedingly hard to accept. His private papers, letters and notebooks, most of them held at the library of University College London, give insight into Greenough's personality, motivation and geological views.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.