Robert Allan

Robert Allan FRSE FGS (12 October 1806 – 6 June 1863) was a Scottish advocate, stockbroker and amateur mineralogist. He was author of A Manual of Mineralogy which set a benchmark within this field. Life He was born in Edinburgh on 12 October 1806, the son of Thomas Allan. He attended the High School in Edinburgh, and then studied law at the University of Edinburgh. In 1822, he met the German mineralogist Wilhelm Haidinger during his visit to Edinburgh, and who (together with his father) greatly influenced his views. All three were friends and went together on mineral-hunting expeditions both in Britain and in Europe.