William Buckland

William Buckland (12 March, 1784 - 24 August, 1856) was a prominent English geologist and palaeontologist who wrote the first full account of a fossil dinosaur, a proponent of Old Earth creationism and Flood geology who later became convinced by the glaciation theory of Louis Agassiz.

Early life and university

Buckland was born at Axminster in Devon, and as a child would accompany his father, the Rector of Templeton and Trusham, on his walks where interest in road improvements led to collecting fossil shells, including ammonites, from the Jurassic lias rocks exposed in local quarries.

Related Topics:
Axminster - Devon - Ammonite - Jurassic - Lias

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He won a scholarship in 1801 to study for the ministry at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, also attending the lectures of John Kidd on mineralogy and chemistry, as well as developing an interest in geology and carrying out field research on strata during vacations. Having taken his BA in 1804 he went on to obtain his MA degree in 1808. He then became a Fellow of his college and was ordained as a priest, and continued to make frequent geological excursions on horseback to various parts of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In 1813 he was appointed reader in mineralogy in succession to John Kidd, giving lively and popular lectures with increasing emphasis on geology and palaeontology. As (unofficial) curator of the Ashmolean Museum he built up collections, touring Europe and coming into contact with scientists including Georges Cuvier.

Related Topics:
1801 - Corpus Christi College, Oxford - John Kidd - 1804 - 1808 - Scotland - Ireland - Wales - 1813 - Ashmolean Museum - Georges Cuvier

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