Sir James Hall, Bt., 1761–1832

Abstract

“AMONG Hutton's friends”, wrote Sir Archibald Geikie in his work “The Founders of Geology”, “there was one in particular to whom a distinguished place in the list of the founders of geology must be assigned—Sir James Hall of Dunglass. To this original investigator we owe the establishment of experimental research as a branch of geological investigation.” The heir to a considerable estate at Dun-glass, Haddingtonshire, Hall was born there on Jan. 17, 1761, and died at Edinburgh on June 23, 1832—a century ago. After three years travelling on the Continent, he married a daughter of the Earl of Selkirk and settled at Edinburgh, where he soon became familiar with the interesting group of men who made Edinburgh famous as a centre of scientific thought. He was especially friendly with Playfair and Hutton, being greatly interested in the geological controversies of the time, and after opposing some of the views of Hutton, became one of his keenest supporters. It was this that led him to make a long and laborious series of experiments on the fusion of various substances. “These experiments”, said Humboldt in Cosmos, “made more than half a century ago, together with the attentive study of the phenomena of granitic veins, have contributed in a very high degree to the recent progress of geological science.” For many years Hall was a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and at one time served as president. His bust was placed in the Royal School of Mines many years ago.