Correspondence of Sir Roderick Impey Murchison

This material is held atEdinburgh University Library Heritage Collections

Scope and Content

The Correspondence of Sir Roderick Impey Murchison series consists of:

  • letters from Murchison to his wife, 1854 and 1857
  • miscellaneous correspondence and notes (including letters to Sir Archibald Geikie) 1831-1871
  • correspondence relating to Murchison's dispute with Adam Sedgwick regarding Silurian classification 1838 and 1852-1866
  • assorted correspondence, arranged alphabetically, with notes and presscuttings 1827-1870
  • Obituary notices, notices, memoranda and notes, 1850-1871

Administrative / Biographical History

Sir Archibald Geikie (1835-1924) wrote memoirs of a number of scientists who were his contemporaries, including Sir Roderick Impey Murchison (1792-1871). He worked largely from original papers and letters of his former colleagues, collecting or borrowing them for this purpose. Correspondents included Lady Charlotte Murchison, Adam Sedgewick, William Branwhite Clarke, Edward Hammond Hargraves, Sir John Frederick William Herschel, Freidrich Heinrich Alexander Von Humbolt, Prince Albert, JH Murchison, Herman Merivale and Sir Henry Holland. Subjects included gold in Australia and Silurian classification.

Archivist's Note

None

Grant Buttars 15 November 2001

Geographical Names