1792-1871

Scottish geologist who first described rocks of the Silurian system in England and conducted geologic mapping of Russia. One of the most distinguished geologists of the nineteenth century, Murchison was important in establishing the Permian and Devonian systems, and helped to put geologic time and events in the history of life on earth into a more understandable chronological and theoretical framework. He was named the director of the Royal School of Mines and director-general of the Geological Survey.