Henry Clifton Sorby
Encyclopedia
Henry Clifton Sorby was an English
microscopist and geologist
.
in Yorkshire
and attended Sheffield Collegiate School
. He early developed an interest in natural science
, and one of his first papers related to the excavation of valleys in Yorkshire
. He subsequently dealt with the physical geography
of former geological periods, with the wave-structure in certain stratified rocks, and the origin of slaty cleavage
.
He took up the study of rocks and minerals under the microscope
, and published an important memoir "On the Microscopical Structure of Crystals" in 1858 (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.). In England he was one of the pioneers in petrography
; he was awarded the Wollaston medal
by the Geological Society of London
in 1869, and became its President. In his presidential addresses he gave the results of original researches on the structure and origin of limestone
s, and of the non-calcareous stratified
rocks (1879–1880).
He had previously been president of the Royal Microscopical Society
. He wrote on the construction and use of the micro-spectroscope in the study of animal and vegetable colouring matter, and in later essays he dealt with such varied subjects as the microscopical structure of iron
and steel
, and the temperature of the water in estuaries.
He also applied his skill in making preparations of invertebrate
animals for lantern-slides. In 1882 he was elected president of Firth College, Sheffield after the death of founder Mark Firth. Sorby also worked hard for the establishment of the University of Sheffield
which was eventually founded in 1905. A university hall of residence, Sorby Hall, which was built in the 1960s and demolished in August 2006 was named after him.
He died in Sheffield and was buried in Eccleshall churchyard.
in 1863 for his work on the Direct Correlation of mechanical and Chemical Forces and was awarded their Royal Medal
in 1874.
Both the International Association of Sedimentologists and the Yorkshire Geological Society have Sorby Medals named in honour of Sorby's achievements in geology.
Dorsa Sorby
on the Moon is named after him. There is also a wing at the Northern General Hospital
named after him.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
microscopist and 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...
.
Biography
Sorby was born at Woodbourne near SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and attended Sheffield Collegiate School
Sheffield Collegiate School
Sheffield Collegiate School began in 1836 in new buildings on the corner of Ecclesall Road and Collegiate Crescent...
. He early developed an interest in natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
, and one of his first papers related to the excavation of valleys in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. He subsequently dealt with the physical geography
Physical geography
Physical geography is one of the two major subfields of geography. Physical geography is that branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere, as opposed to the cultural or built environment, the...
of former geological periods, with the wave-structure in certain stratified rocks, and the origin of slaty cleavage
Cleavage (geology)
This article is about rock cleavage, for cleavage in minerals see Cleavage Cleavage, in structural geology and petrology, describes a type of planar rock feature that develops as a result of deformation and metamorphism. The degree of deformation and metamorphism along with rock type determines the...
.
He took up the study of rocks and minerals under the microscope
Microscope
A microscope is an instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye. The science of investigating small objects using such an instrument is called microscopy...
, and published an important memoir "On the Microscopical Structure of Crystals" in 1858 (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc.). In England he was one of the pioneers in petrography
Petrography
Petrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. Petrographic descriptions start with the field notes at the...
; he was awarded 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"...
in 1869, and became its President. In his presidential addresses he gave the results of original researches on the structure and origin of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
s, and of the non-calcareous stratified
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
rocks (1879–1880).
He had previously been president of the Royal Microscopical Society
Royal Microscopical Society
The Royal Microscopical Society is an international scientific society for the promotion of microscopy. RMS draws members from all over the world and is dedicated to advancing science, developing careers and supporting wider understanding of science and microscopy through its Science and Society...
. He wrote on the construction and use of the micro-spectroscope in the study of animal and vegetable colouring matter, and in later essays he dealt with such varied subjects as the microscopical structure of iron
Iron
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
, and the temperature of the water in estuaries.
He also applied his skill in making preparations of invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
animals for lantern-slides. In 1882 he was elected president of Firth College, Sheffield after the death of founder Mark Firth. Sorby also worked hard for the establishment of the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
which was eventually founded in 1905. A university hall of residence, Sorby Hall, which was built in the 1960s and demolished in August 2006 was named after him.
He died in Sheffield and was buried in Eccleshall churchyard.
Honours and Awards
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in June 1857 as one who was Author of various papers on Slaty Cleavage; on the peculiarities of stratification due to the action of currents & their application to the investigation of the Physical Geography of ancient periods; on the microscopical structure of limestones and other peculiarities of the physical & chemical constitution of rocks. Distinguished for his acquaintance with the science of Geology.. He delivered their Bakerian LectureBakerian Lecture
The Bakerian Lecture is a prize lecture of the Royal Society, a lecture on physical sciences.In 1775 Henry Baker left £100 for a spoken lecture by a Fellow on such part of natural history or experimental philosophy as the Society shall determine....
in 1863 for his work on the Direct Correlation of mechanical and Chemical Forces and was awarded their Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1874.
Both the International Association of Sedimentologists and the Yorkshire Geological Society have Sorby Medals named in honour of Sorby's achievements in geology.
Dorsa Sorby
Dorsa Sorby
Dorsa Sorby is a wrinkle ridge system at in Mare Serenitatis on the Moon. It is 80 km long and was named after Henry Clifton Sorby in 1976....
on the Moon is named after him. There is also a wing at the Northern General Hospital
Northern General Hospital
The Northern General Hospital is a large teaching hospital in Sheffield, England. It hosts most major departments, including a busy Accident and Emergency for adults...
named after him.