The term antediluvian refers to before the flood or deluge of Noah's time; relating to what happened before the deluge. In geology the term has been applied to organisms, traces of which are found in a fossil state in formations preceding the Diluvial, particularly to extinct animals such as the paleotherium, the mastodon, etc. Research Antediluvian
The Bridgewater Treatises were a series of books, the outcome of the will of the Reverend Henry Francis, Earl of Bridgewater, who died in 1829, bequeathing a sum of 8000 pounds, which should be paid to the person or persons chosen to write and publish 1000 copies of a work on the power, wisdom, and goodness of God as manifested in the creation. The result was eight works on animal and vegetablephysiology, astronomy, geology, the history, habits, and instincts of animals, etc, which at one time enjoyed great popularity. The names of the writers are Dr. Chalmers, Dr. Kidd, Dr. Whewell, Sir Charles Bell, Dr. Roget, Dr. Buckland, Reverend William Kirby, and Dr. Prout. Research Bridgewater Treatises
The British Museum is the great national museum in London. It owes its foundation to Sir Hans Sloane, who, in 1753, bequeathed his various collections, including 50,000 books and manuscripts, to the nation, on the condition of 20,000 pounds - less by 30,000 pounds than the original cost - being paid to his heirs. Montague House, which was bought for the purpose for 10,250 pounds, was appropriated for the museum, which was first opened on the 15th January, 1759. The original edifice having become inadequate, a new building in Great Russell Street was resolved upon in 1823, the architect being Sir R Smirke, whose building was not completed until 1847. In 1857 a new library building was completed and opened at a cost of 150,000 pounds. It contains a circular reading-room 140 feet in diameter, with a dome 106 feet in height. This room contains accommodation for 300 readers comfortably seated at separate desks, which are provided with all necessary conveniences. Later, the accommodation having become again inadequate, it was resolved to separate the objects belonging to the natural history department from the rest, and to lodge them in a building by themselves. Accordingly a large natural historymuseum was erected at South Kensington, and the specimens pertaining to natural history (including geology and mineralogy) were transferred thither, but they still formed part of the British Museum for some time. Later the literary section was split away to form the British Library, and for many years a copy of every book, pamphlet, newspaper, piece of music etc published anywhere in British territory had to be conveyed free of charge to the museum, this practice being reduced at the end of the 20th century when it was deemed by some as unnecessary to store every bus time table and the like published throughout Britain. Research British Museum
In ordinary speech the horizon is line where the earth and the sky seem to meet, or the circle which bounds that part of the earth's surface visible to a spectator from a given point. This is termed the sensible, visible, or apparent horizon, as distinguished from the rational or celestial horizon, an imaginary great circle, parallel to the sensible horizon, whose plane passes through the earth's centre, whose poles are the zenith and the nadir, and which divides the sphere into two equal hemispheres. In observations with the sextant at sea, when the real horizon is invisible a small basin containing mercury may serve as an artificial horizon. The observation that is then made is the
angle between the sun or star and the image of the sun or star in the basin of mercury, and it is easily seen that half this angle is the altitude of the object above the real horizon. In geology, the term is applied to any well-marked formation which suffices as a starting-point from which to study the rest. Research Horizon
Alexandre Brongniart was a French geologist and mineralogist. He was born in 1770 and died in 1847. In 1800 he was appointed director of the porcelain manufactory at Sevres. In 1807 appeared his Traite Elementaire de Mineralogie; and along with Georges Cuvier he wrote Description Geologique des Environs de Paris. He also wrote other works on mineralogy and geology, and in 1844 appeared his Traite des Arts Ceramiques. He was a member of the Academy of Sciences, and in 1822 succeeded Hauy as professor of mineralogy in the Museum of Natural History. Research Alexandre Brongniart
Sir Archibald Geikie was a Scottish geologist. He was born in 1835 at Edinburgh and died in 1924. He was appointed to the geological survey, and became director of the Scottish branch in 1867. He was professor of geology at Edinburgh from 1871 to 1882; director-general of the United Kingdom survey and head of the Museum of Practical Geology, London, from 1882 until 1901. He is the author of Text-book of Geology, Class-book of Geology, Field Geology, The Scenery of Scotland in connection with its Physical Geology, Ancient Volcanoes of Britain; Life of Sir R. I. Murchison, Memoir of Sir A. C. Ramsay, Scottish Reminiscences; etc. Research Archibald Geikie
Sir Charles Lyell was a British geologist. He was born in 1797 at Kinnordy and died in 1875. Educated at Midhurst, Sussex and at Exeter College, Oxford he afterwards entered Lincoln's Inn on being called to the bar. He had an interest in science, and devoted himself to the study of geology, specialising in marine remains of the Tertiary period, travelling widely in Europe studying. Sir Charles Lyell was twice president of the Geological Society and president of the British Association. He was knighted in 1848 and made a baronet in 1864. After he died he was buried at Westminster Abbey. Research Charles Lyell
David Thomas Ansted was an English geologist. He was born in 1814 and died in 1880. He was professor of geology at King's College, London, and assistant-secretary to the Geological Society, whose quarterly journal he edited for many years. His writings on geology were standard authorities. Research David Ansted
Edward Forbes was a British naturalist. He was born in 1815 at Douglas, Isle of Man and died in 1854. He devoted himself to science at an early age, and having made scientific journeys in Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, etc, he was attached to a scientific expedition to the Mediterranean, the result of which appeared in a report presented to the British Association, and in Travels in Lycia. In 1842 he became professor of botany at King's College, London. On the opening of the School of Mines Edward Forbes was appointed lecturer on natural history as applied to geology and the arts. He still retained his professorship of botany at King's College, and continued to contribute annually some of his most valuable memoirs to the British Association, besides writing for scientific and literary journals.
In 1853 he was appointed to the chair of natural history in Edinburgh. Among his more important works, which include a great number of valuable papers on zoological, botanical, and literary subjects, are a History of the Star-fishes and History of British Mollusca. Research Edward Forbes
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Antediluvian
