The late Professor James Geikie, LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S. [Obituary.

Abstract

The subject of this notice was born in Edinburgh in 1839, and educated at the Royal High School, where he distinguished himself in classics. Although nature study had not yet become part of the school curriculum, James Geikie, even as a schoolboy, was keenly interested in geology and natural history, and these were red letter days when he was permitted to join two older boys on their geological rambles in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. The three afterwards became colleagues in the Geological Survey—one was his eldest brother, now Sir Archibald Geikie, the other the late Professor John Young of Glasgow. On leaving school in 1854 James Geikie was apprenticed to Mr Thomas Constable, the printer, and he stayed at what proved an uncongenial occupation for four years. We next find him attending classes in the University of Edinburgh, where he came under the influence of Allman and Goodsir. He often spoke also of the stimulus he received from George Wilson, the Professor of Technology. In 1861 he became a member of the Scottish staff of H.M. Geological Survey which then included Messrs H. H. Howell, Archibald Geikie and John Young. They were joined a few months later by Mr (now Dr) B. N. Peach. James Geikie was promoted to the post of District Geologist in 1869, and held that position until 1882, when he succeeded his brother as Murchison Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in the University of Edinburgh. James Geikie has stated himself that his interest in boulder-clays and