GEOLOGIST

William Smith

1769 - 1839

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William 'Strata' Smith (23 March 1769 – 28 August 1839) was an English geologist, credited with creating the first detailed, nationwide geological map of any country. At the time his map was first published he was overlooked by the scientific community; his relatively humble education and family connections prevented him from mixing easily in learned society. Financially ruined, Smith spent time in debtors' prison. It was only late in his life that Smith received recognition for his accomplishments, and became known as the "Father of English Geology". Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. William Smith is the 18th most popular geologist (down from 15th in 2019), the 1,360th most popular biography from United Kingdom (down from 1,064th in 2019) and the 6th most popular British Geologist.

William Smith is most famous for his work in the field of geology. He is credited with developing the law of uniformitarianism which states that the rate of natural processes has remained constant over time.

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Among GEOLOGISTS

Among geologists, William Smith ranks 18 out of 90Before him are Francis Beaufort, Abraham Gottlob Werner, Beno Gutenberg, Gideon Mantell, Vasily Dokuchaev, and Walter Alvarez. After him are Adam Sedgwick, Jean-André Deluc, Christian Leopold von Buch, Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu, Ignacy Domeyko, and Giuseppe Mercalli.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1769, William Smith ranks 14Before him are Jean Lannes, Ivan Krylov, Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, André-Jacques Garnerin, Ivan Kotliarevsky, and Józef Elsner. After him are Thomas Lawrence, Mahmud Shah Durrani, Ernst Moritz Arndt, Barthélemy Catherine Joubert, Aleksey Arakcheyev, and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Among people deceased in 1839, William Smith ranks 10Before him are Friedrich Mohs, Fernando Sor, Ranjit Singh, William, Duke of Nassau, Princess Marie of Orléans, and Charlotte Bonaparte. After him are Joseph Fesch, Pehr Henrik Ling, Ferdinando Paer, Aloysia Weber, Hugues-Bernard Maret, duc de Bassano, and William Murdoch.

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In United Kingdom

Among people born in United Kingdom, William Smith ranks 1,360 out of 8,785Before him are Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689), Mark Hollis (1955), Paul Grice (1913), Ciarán Hinds (1953), Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge (1774), and Clive Owen (1964). After him are William Henry (1774), W. Montgomery Watt (1909), Adam Sedgwick (1785), Samuel Wallis (1728), Thomas Lawrence (1769), and Henry Royce (1863).

Among GEOLOGISTS In United Kingdom

Among geologists born in United Kingdom, William Smith ranks 6Before him are Charles Lyell (1797), James Hutton (1726), Mary Anning (1799), Eduard Suess (1831), and Gideon Mantell (1790). After him are Adam Sedgwick (1785), William Buckland (1784), Arthur Holmes (1890), William Nicol (1770), John Phillips (1800), and Archibald Geikie (1835).