William Edmond Logan
Encyclopedia
Sir William Edmond Logan (April 20, 1798–June 22, 1875) was a Scottish-Canadian geologist.
Logan was born in Montreal
, Quebec
, and educated at the High School in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh
(graduated 1817). He started teaching himself geology in 1831, when he took over the running of a copper works in Swansea
. He produced a geological map of the south Wales
coalfield. Based on this research, in 1840 he presented to the Geological Society of London
his paper "On the character of the beds of clay lying immediately below the coal-seams of South Wales, and on the occurrence of coal-boulders in the Pennant Grit of that district." This paper suggested his opinion that the layer of clay under the coalfield was the old soil in which grew the plants from which the coal was formed.
His abilities as a geologist were noticed, and in 1842 he was asked to establish the Geological Survey of Canada. In 1855, he recruited Robert Barlow
as the survey's chief draughtsman. He continued as director until 1869. During this time he described the Laurentian rocks of the Laurentian Mountains
in Canada and of the Adirondacks
in the state of New York
.
He discovered Logan's Line, the demarcation between the heavily folded Appalachian Mountains
and the flat sedimentary rock
s, laid down during the Paleozoic Era
, lying inland of them.
in 1855 and a knighthood from Queen Victoria
in 1856. In the same year he was awarded the Wollaston Medal
by the Geological Society of London
.
After his retirement in 1869 he settled in Pembrokeshire
in west Wales
where he died. He was interred in the churchyard in the village of Cilgerran
.
Logan was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and educated at the High School in Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
(graduated 1817). He started teaching himself geology in 1831, when he took over the running of a copper works in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
. He produced a geological map of the south Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
coalfield. Based on this research, in 1840 he presented to 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"...
his paper "On the character of the beds of clay lying immediately below the coal-seams of South Wales, and on the occurrence of coal-boulders in the Pennant Grit of that district." This paper suggested his opinion that the layer of clay under the coalfield was the old soil in which grew the plants from which the coal was formed.
His abilities as a geologist were noticed, and in 1842 he was asked to establish the Geological Survey of Canada. In 1855, he recruited Robert Barlow
Robert Barlow
Robert Barlow was a cartographer and topographical draftsman from England who spent most of his career there with the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain....
as the survey's chief draughtsman. He continued as director until 1869. During this time he described the Laurentian rocks of the Laurentian Mountains
Laurentian mountains
The Laurentian Mountains are a mountain range in southern Quebec, Canada, north of the St. Lawrence River and Ottawa River, rising to a highest point of 1166 metres at Mont Raoul Blanchard, north east of Quebec City in the Reserve Faunique des Laurentides. The Gatineau, L'Assomption, Lièvre,...
in Canada and of the Adirondacks
Adirondack Mountains
The Adirondack Mountains are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of New York, that runs through Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties....
in the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
He discovered Logan's Line, the demarcation between the heavily folded Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
and the flat sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s, laid down during the Paleozoic Era
Paleozoic
The Paleozoic era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic eon, spanning from roughly...
, lying inland of them.
Honours
Over his illustrious career he received 27 medals including the Legion of Honor from Emperor Napoleon III of FranceNapoleon III of France
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was the President of the French Second Republic and as Napoleon III, the ruler of the Second French Empire. He was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I, christened as Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte...
in 1855 and a knighthood from Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in 1856. In the same year 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"...
.
After his retirement in 1869 he settled in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
in west Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
where he died. He was interred in the churchyard in the village of Cilgerran
Cilgerran
Cilgerran is a town in the Hundred of Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Teifi. It is the site of Cilgerran Castle, built in 1100, from which Owain of Powys is said to have abducted Nest in 1109. It is first mentioned by name in 1164...
.
Posthumous honours
- Mount LoganMount LoganMount Logan is the highest mountain in Canada and the second-highest peak in North America, after Mount McKinley . The mountain was named after Sir William Edmond Logan, a Canadian geologist and founder of the Geological Survey of Canada . Mount Logan is located within Kluane National Park and...
, the highest mountain in Canada, was named in 1890 by I.C. Russell of the U.S. Geological Survey in his honour. - The mineral WeloganiteWeloganiteWeloganite is a rare carbonate mineral with formula: It was discovered in 1967 and named for Canadian geologist Sir William Edmond Logan . It was first discovered in Francon Quarry, Montreal, Canada and has only been reported from a few localities worldwide.-Properties:It is usually white, lemon...
, first found in Montreal, Canada, was named in his honour. - The Geological Association of CanadaGeological Association of CanadaThe Geological Association of Canada promotes and develops the geological sciences in Canada. The organization holds conferences, meetings and exhibitions for the discussion of geological problems and the exchange of views in matters related to geology...
awards the Logan MedalLogan MedalThe Logan Medal is the highest award of the Geological Association of Canada. Named after Sir William Edmond Logan, noted 19th century Canadian geologist. It is presented annually to an individual for sustained distinguished achievement in Canadian earth science.-References:*...
annually as its highest honour.
See also
- Logan PassLogan PassLogan Pass is located along the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, in the U.S. state of Montana. It is the highest point on the Going-to-the-Sun Road....
- Andrew BellAndrew Bell (minister)Andrew Bell was a Presbyterian minister who was born in London, England, moved to Scotland and emigrated to Upper Canada with his family in 1817....
- Robert BellRobert Bell (geologist)Robert Bell FRSC MD was a Canadian geologist, professor and civil servant. He is considered Canada’s greatest exploring scientist, having named over 3,000 geographical features.-Personal life:...
External links
- Written in Stone: William E.Logan and the Geological Survey of Canada(English and French)
- Sir William Logan 1798 - 1875
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- William Edmond Logan (1798 - 1875): Canada's Super-Rocker!!
- Sir William Logan Online
- Sir William Logan, 200th birthday essay