William Buckland

Also known as Buckand, Buckland

William Buckland DD, FRS was an English theologian, geologist and palaeontologist.

Occupation: curator, paleontologist, physicist, geologist
Position held: President of the Geological Society of London, Dean of Westminster, President of the British Science Association
Citizenship: England
Born: March 12, 1784
Died: August 14, 1856, August 24, 1856

Overview

William Buckland DD, FRS (12 March 1784 – 14 August 1856) was an English theologian who became Dean of Westminster. He was also a geologist and palaeontologist. Buckland wrote the first full account of a fossil dinosaur, which he named Megalosaurus. His work proved that Kirkdale Cave in North Yorkshire had been a prehistoric hyena den, for which he was awarded the Copley Medal. It was praised as an example of how scientific analysis could reconstruct events in the distant past. He pioneered the use of fossilised faeces in reconstructing ecosystems, coining the term coprolites. Buckland followed the Gap Theory in interpreting the biblical account of Genesis as two widely separated episodes of creation. It had emerged as a way to reconcile the scriptural account with discoveries in geology suggesting the earth was very old. Early in his career Buckland believed he had found evidence of the biblical flood, but later saw that the glaciation theory of Louis Agassiz gave a better explanation, and played a significant role in promoting it. Early life

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Also known as Buckand, Buckland

Notable quotes

“Geology holds the keys of one of the kingdoms of nature; and it cannot be said that a science which extends our Knowledge, and by consequence our Power, over a third part of nature, holds a low place among intellectual employments.”
— As quoted in A Comparative Estimate of the Mineral and Mosaical Geologies (1825) by Granville Penn, p. 8
“Geology has shared the fate of other infant sciences, in being for a while considered hostile to revealed religion; so like them, when fully understood, it will be found a potent and consistent auxiliary to it, exalting our conviction of the Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness of the Creator.”
— As quoted in The Age of the World : Moses to Darwin (1959) by Francis C. Haber, p. 221
“The taste of mole was the most repulsive I knew until I tasted a bluebottle [fly].”
— As quoted in The Violinist's Thumb 2012 by Sam Kean, p. 204
“I have eaten many strange things, but have never eaten the heart of a king.”
— As quoted in The Violinist's Thumb 2012 by Sam Kean, p. 233

Quotes via Wikiquote (CC BY-SA), each with its original source.

About William Buckland

About William Buckland

Overview

Notable quotes

Live room · 1 here

Notable quotes

Overview