Famous 18th Century Geologists

Vote for Your Favourite 18th Century Geologists

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
James Hutton
(Geologist)
James Hutton
10
Birthdate: June 3, 1726
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Edinburgh
Died: March 26, 1797

The pioneer of modern geology, James Hutton laid down the principle of uniformitarianism in geology. While he was initially interested in chemistry, he had later also studied law and had then moved on to medicine. His iconic Theory of the Earth explained the science behind rock formations.

 2 
Charles Lyell
10
Birthdate: November 14, 1797
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Angus
Died: February 22, 1875

Charles Lyell was a Scottish geologist best remembered for his work Principles of Geology, which explains the origin of the earth. He is also remembered for his pioneering explanation of climate change. A close friend of Charles Darwin, Charles Lyell is also credited with influencing many of Darwin's works pertaining to the theories of evolution.  

 3 
William Smith
(Pioneering British Geologist Who Created the World's First Detailed Country Map)
William Smith
3
Birthdate: March 23, 1769
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Churchill, England
Died: August 28, 1839

British geologist William Smith, who is regarded as the Father of English Geology, is remembered for developing the science of stratigraphy. His geologic map of England and Wales was the world’s first nationwide and detailed geologic map. He was also the recipient of the first Wollaston Medal.

Recommended Lists:
 4 
Roderick Murchison
(Geologist)
Roderick Murchison
5
Birthdate: February 22, 1792
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Muir of Ord, Scotland
Died: October 22, 1871
 5 
Gideon Mantell
(British Geologist and Palaeontologist)
Gideon Mantell
3
Birthdate: February 3, 1790
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Lewes, Sussex, England
Died: November 10, 1852

Gideon Mantell was a British geologist, obstetrician, and palaeontologist. Mantell's attempt to reconstruct the structure of Iguanodon started the scientific study of dinosaurs. He is also credited with discovering the first fossil teeth of Iguanodon. Subsequently, Gideon Mantell went on to discover and identify much of the skeleton of Iguanodon.

 6 
Adam Sedgwick
(Geologist)
Adam Sedgwick
3
Birthdate: March 22, 1785
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dent
Died: January 27, 1873

Adam Sedgwick was a British Anglican priest and geologist. He is credited with guiding and mentoring Charles Darwin during his early years. However, Sedgwick went on to oppose Darwin's theory of evolution. The world's oldest student-run geological society, The Sedgwick Club, was established in his honor in 1880.

 7 
William Withering
(British Botanist, Geologist, Chemist and Physician Best Known for His Use of Extracts of Foxglove to Treat Dropsy)
William Withering
3
Birthdate: March 17, 1741
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wellington, Shropshire, England
Died: October 6, 1799

Born to a surgeon, William Withering followed in his father’s footsteps to become a physician, though he also had immense knowledge of botany, geology, and chemistry. He not only treated edema, or dropsy, with the help of the foxglove plant but also studied scarlet fever and suggested rum as a medical substitute.

 8 
William Hopkins
(Mathematician, Geologist)
William Hopkins
3
Birthdate: February 2, 1793
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kingston on Soar
Died: October 13, 1866

William Hopkins was an English geologist and mathematician. He is remembered for serving as a private tutor of prospective undergraduate Cambridge mathematicians, which earned him the nickname senior-wrangler maker. Hopkins also played first-class cricket and was associated with Cambridge University Cricket Club. He had an unfortunate end to his life as he spent his final years in a lunatic asylum.

 9 
Abraham Gottlob Werner
(German Geologist Who Established the 'Neptunist School')
Abraham Gottlob Werner
3
Birthdate: September 25, 1749
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Osiecznica, Poland
Died: June 30, 1817

German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner is known as the founder of the Neptunist school that stated that all rocks an aqueous origin. He also rejected uniformitarianism of geological evolution. He also coined the term geognosy. Not too fond of reading mail, he learned of his membership of the Académie des Sciences from a journal.

 10 
Stanisław Staszic
(Polish Priest, Philosopher, Geologist, Scholar, Poet and Writer)
Stanisław Staszic
2
Birthdate: November 6, 1755
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pila, Poland
Died: January 20, 1826

Stanisław Staszic was a Polish philosopher who played a leading role in the Polish Enlightenment. He was also a Catholic priest, geologist, writer, and translator. He supported many reforms in Poland and was the co-founder of the Warsaw Society of Friends of Learning. He later served as the minister of trade and industry in Congress Poland. 

 11 
Horace Bénédict de Saussure
(Genevan Geologist and Physicist Who Developed an Improved Hygrometer to Measure Atmospheric Humidity)
Horace Bénédict de Saussure
2
Birthdate: February 17, 1740
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland
Died: January 22, 1799

Apart from being a geologist and physicist, Horace Bénédict de Saussure was also a skilled mountaineer and Alpine explorer. Initially a professor of philosophy and physics, he later became one of the earliest user of the word geology. Of his many inventions, the most prominent was his version of the hygrometer.

 12 
William Conybeare
(Geologist)
William Conybeare
2
Birthdate: June 7, 1787
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: London, England
Died: August 12, 1857
 13 
Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu
(Geologist)
Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu
2
Birthdate: June 23, 1750
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kingdom of France
Died: November 28, 1801
 14 
Richard Kirwan
(Irish Geologist and Chemist)
Richard Kirwan
2
Birthdate: August 1, 1733
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Galway, Ireland
Died: June 22, 1812

Initially part of the Jesuit novitiate of Saint-Omer in France, Richard Kirwan quit the order when his brother was killed in a duel. He then rose to become one of Ireland’s greatest chemists and geologists. He was known for his studies on phlogiston and for developing the Royal Irish Society.

 15 
Jean-André Deluc
(Swiss Geologist, Natural Philosopher and Meteorologist)
Jean-André Deluc
4
Birthdate: February 8, 1727
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Geneva, Switzerland
Died: November 7, 1817

Copley Medal-winning geologist and meteorologist Jean-André Deluc had initially studied math and natural sciences, before embarking on business tours across Europe. In course of time, he gathered a huge collection of fossils and minerals. His research areas included the mercury barometer. He was later named a fellow of the Royal Society.

 16 
Christian Leopold von Buch
(German Geologist and Paleontologist Who Defined the 'Jurassic System')
Christian Leopold von Buch
1
Birthdate: April 26, 1774
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Germany
Died: March 4, 1853

German geologist and paleontologist Christian Leopold von Buch initially worked as an inspector of mines, before his geological expedition in the Alps. He studied volcanoes in Italy and the Canary Islands and rocks in Scandinavia, too. He is, however, best remembered for defining the Jurassic System.

 17 
Sir James Hall, 4th Baronet
(Geologist)
Sir James Hall, 4th Baronet
1
Birthdate: January 17, 1761
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dunglass, Scotland
Died: June 23, 1832
 18 
Giovanni Arduino
(Geologist)
Giovanni Arduino
2
Birthdate: October 16, 1714
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Caprino Veronese, Italy
Died: March 21, 1795
 19 
Joachim Barrande
(Geologist)
Joachim Barrande
1
Birthdate: August 11, 1799
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Saugues, France
Died: October 5, 1883
 20 
George Julius Poulett Scrope
(Geologist)
George Julius Poulett Scrope
1
Birthdate: March 10, 1797
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England
Died: January 19, 1876
 21 
George Bellas Greenough
(Geologist, Politician)
George Bellas Greenough
2
Birthdate: January 18, 1778
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Died: April 2, 1855
 22 
Ami Boué
(Geologist)
Ami Boué
1
Birthdate: March 16, 1794
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Hamburg, Germany
Died: November 21, 1881
 23 
Jean Baptiste Julien d'Omalius d'Halloy
(Geologist)
Jean Baptiste Julien d'Omalius d'Halloy
1
Birthdate: February 16, 1783
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Liège, Belgium
Died: January 15, 1875
 24 
Johann Gottlob Lehmann
(German Mineralogist and Geologist Who Developed 'Stratigraphy')
Johann Gottlob Lehmann
1
Birthdate: August 4, 1719
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel, Germany
Died: January 22, 1767

German mineralogist and geologist Johann Gottlob Lehmann is remembered for his pioneering contribution to the science of stratigraphy. He also worked a museum director and professor in Russia and discovered what is now known as crocoite. He died when an arsenic-filled retort he was working in exploded.

 25 
Nicolas Desmarest
(Geologist)
Nicolas Desmarest
1
Birthdate: September 16, 1725
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Soulaines-Dhuys, France
Died: September 20, 1815
 26 
William Lonsdale
(Geologist)
William Lonsdale
0
Birthdate: September 9, 1794
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bath, England
Died: November 11, 1871
 27 
Georg Christian Füchsel
(German Physician and Geologist Who Was a Pioneering Figure in 'Stratigraphy')
Georg Christian Füchsel
0
Birthdate: February 14, 1722
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ilmenau, Germany
Died: June 20, 1773

German physician and geologist Georg Christian Füchsel is remembered for his pioneering contribution to stratigraphy. Apart from being the court physician of Friedrich Carl, prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, he also created the first geological map of Germany and nearby areas. He organized Friedrich’s natural science collections, too.