Thomas Jamieson

Geologist, Academic

1829 – 1913

26

Who was Thomas Jamieson?

Thomas Francis Jamieson was a Scottish scientist most associated with his studies of sea level and glacial isostasy during the Quaternary.

Born the son of a jeweller, Jamieson was raised in Aberdeen and educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and the University of Aberdeen, at which he was appointed Fordyce Lecturer in Agriculture in 1862, a post he held for 15 years.

Interested in geology from an early age, Jamieson corresponded widely with other scientists, including Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin. After early research on petrology, Jamieson studied the glaciated rocks of Scotland, providing evidence for the then-fledgling theory of ice ages. Later work on marine sediments found above sea level in the Forth Valley convinced Jamieson that the area had once been beneath sea level, and that this was caused by the weight of glaciers depressing the land.

While these views brought Jamieson into conflict with the prevailing orthodoxy of the Geological Survey of Scotland, he continued to elaborate them, identifying raised shorelines around Scotland at a series of elevations.

We need you!

Help us build the largest biographies collection on the web!

Born
1829
Scotland
Nationality
  • United Kingdom
Profession
Education
  • University of Aberdeen
Lived in
  • United Kingdom
Died
1913

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

Use the citation below to add to a bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Thomas Jamieson." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/thomas_jamieson>.

Discuss this Thomas Jamieson biography with the community:

0 Comments

    Browse Biographies.net