Geikie, Archibald, 1835-1924

Archibald Geikie was born in Edinburgh in 1835. He was educated at Edinburgh High School and the University of Edinburgh. In 1855, he joined the Geological Survey of Scotland, becoming its director in 1867. Between 1871 and 1882, he was professor of geology and mineralogy at the University of Edinburgh, and from 1882 until his retirement in 1901, served as director general of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Geikie did much to further the study of glacial deposits in Scotland and, in 1863, wrote an important paper for the Geological Society of Glasgow entitled Glacial Drift of Scotland . His numerous publications include Text-Book of Geology (1882), The Founders of Geology (1897), and Types of Scenery and Their Influence on Literature (1898).

Between 1908 and 1912, he served as president of the Royal Society in London and as president of the Geological Society of London from 1891 to 1892 and from 1906 to 1908. He was knighted in 1891 and died in Haslemere in 1924.

Published work, A long life's work, an autobiography by (Sir) Archibald Geikie, Macmillan, London (1924) SPRI Library Shelf 92[Geikie, A.] National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, Magnetic observations, preface by Archibald Geikie, Royal Society, London (1909) SPRI Library Shelf (7)91(08)[1901-1904], National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, Photographs, prefatory note by Archibald Geikie, Royal Society, London (1908) SPRI Library Shelf (7)91(08)[1901-1904]

From the guide to the Archibald Geikie collection, 1909-1913, (Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge)