Charles Barrois
Encyclopedia
Charles Barrois was a French
geologist
and palaeontologist.
Barrois was born at Lille
and educated at the college in that town, where he studied geology
under Professor Jules Gosselet. His first comprehensive work was Recherches sur le terrain crétacé supérieur de l’Angleterre et de l'Irlande, published in the Mémoires de la societé geologique du Nord in 1876. In this essay the palaeontological zones in the Chalk and Upper Greensand of Britain
were for the first time marked out in detail, and the results of Dr Barrois’s original researches formed the basis of subsequent work, and were in all leading features confirmed. In 1876 Dr Barrois was appointed a collaborateur to the French Geological Survey, and a professor of geology in the University of Lille
in 1877.
In other memoirs, among which may be mentioned those on the Cretaceous
rocks of the Ardennes
and of the Basin of Oviedo, Spain; on the (Devonian) Calcaire d’Erbray; on the Palaeozoic rocks of Brittany
and of northern Spain
; and on the granitic and metamorphic rocks of Brittany, Dr Barrois proved himself an accomplished petrologist as well as palaeontologist and field-geologist
.
In 1881 he was awarded the Bigsby medal
, and in 1901 the Wollaston medal
by the Geological Society of London
. He was chosen member of the Institute (Academy of Sciences) in 1904. In 1907, he created the Musée Houiller (Carboniferous Museum) alongside the Museum Gosselet in Lille.
Barrois's work covered the entire field of geology, and his work was rigorous and based on detailed observation. His fame spread internationally, even before he was recognized in his own country, and he was honored by many European and American academies. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1915. He was made Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
at the age of 37, and was named commander in 1923.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and palaeontologist.
Barrois was born at Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
and educated at the college in that town, where he studied geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
under Professor Jules Gosselet. His first comprehensive work was Recherches sur le terrain crétacé supérieur de l’Angleterre et de l'Irlande, published in the Mémoires de la societé geologique du Nord in 1876. In this essay the palaeontological zones in the Chalk and Upper Greensand of Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
were for the first time marked out in detail, and the results of Dr Barrois’s original researches formed the basis of subsequent work, and were in all leading features confirmed. In 1876 Dr Barrois was appointed a collaborateur to the French Geological Survey, and a professor of geology in the University of Lille
Université Lille Nord de France
The University of Lille -Nord de France , located in Lille, France, is a center for higher education, academic research and doctoral studies located over multiple campuses in the Academie de Lille....
in 1877.
In other memoirs, among which may be mentioned those on the Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
rocks of the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
and of the Basin of Oviedo, Spain; on the (Devonian) Calcaire d’Erbray; on the Palaeozoic rocks of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
and of northern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; and on the granitic and metamorphic rocks of Brittany, Dr Barrois proved himself an accomplished petrologist as well as palaeontologist and field-geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
.
In 1881 he was awarded the Bigsby medal
Bigsby Medal
The Bigsby Medal is a medal of the Geological Society of London established by John Jeremiah Bigsby. It is awarded for the study of American geology and recipients must be under 45 years of age.-Bigsby Medalists:List of Medallists...
, and in 1901 the Wollaston medal
Wollaston Medal
The Wollaston Medal is a scientific award for geology, the highest award granted by the Geological Society of London.The medal is named after William Hyde Wollaston, and was first awarded in 1831...
by the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
. He was chosen member of the Institute (Academy of Sciences) in 1904. In 1907, he created the Musée Houiller (Carboniferous Museum) alongside the Museum Gosselet in Lille.
Barrois's work covered the entire field of geology, and his work was rigorous and based on detailed observation. His fame spread internationally, even before he was recognized in his own country, and he was honored by many European and American academies. He was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1915. He was made Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
at the age of 37, and was named commander in 1923.