Who was James Hutton and what did he do?
James Hutton James Hutton (1726 – 1797) is best known for his important contributions to the science of geology (uniformitarianism and the great age of the earth). However, Hutton was also the first person to propose a mechanism of natural selection to account for evolutionary change over time.
What was James Hutton’s theory of the Earth?
He is commonly referred to as the founder of modern geology. The prevailing theory of Hutton’s time was that all the rocks on Earth were formed from sediments during a great flood. Hutton theorized that a continuing process formed and destroyed the rocks and soils of earth and that the process was an endless loop.
How did James Hutton argue for natural selection?
In his book,Investigation of the Principles of Knowledge (1794), he lays out a clear argument for a process of transmutation by natural selection, and does so through analogy with the process of artificial selection ( click here to link to the relevant passages ).
Where was James Hutton the father of geology buried?
He died on 26 th March 1797, and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh (see page 24 of Edinburgh Geologist Issue 63, pdf 3.45Mb). James Hutton is now recognised as the Father of Modern Geology.
What did James Hutton do with the thermometer?
However Hutton did study the decrease in temperature, linking it with height. Hutton also devised a wet-bulb thermometer to measure humidity. However a ‚Mr Leslie‘ came up with the same idea independently.
Why was James Hutton important to the discovery of geology?
Hutton’s discoveries fulfilled a tremendous mission: placing geology in a much wider time frame than the popular belief that the Earth was created in 4004 BC (as calculated by Bishop Ussher in 1650). This enabled geology to become a science in its own right with Hutton as its founding father.