William Martin (naturalist)
Encyclopedia
William Martin was an English naturalist and palaeontologist who proposed that science should use fossils as evidence to support the study of natural history
. Martin published the first colour pictures of fossils and the first scientific study of fossils in English
.
in 1767. His father worked in the hosiery business, but he left to become an actor in Ireland with the stage name of Joseph Booth. His father was also an inventor and portrait painter who died in London in 1797. Martin's abandoned mother, who was born Mallatratt, was also an actress.
Whilst still a child he appeared on the stage, both as a five year old dancer, and later giving recitations. It was arranged for Martin to learn draughtsmanship from James Bolton
in Halifax
. From 1782 to 1785 he was with a Derbyshire acting troupe when he met White Watson
with whom he was to collaborate in a work on Derbyshire fossils. His work with fossils and natural history eventually led to Martin being elected a fellow of the Linnaean Society. Like Watson, Martin was influenced by the work of Derbyshire geologist, John Whitehurst
. Whitehurst had published An Inquiry into the Original State and Formation of the Earth in 1778 which contained an important appendix which concerned General Observations on the Strata in Derbyshire. However, it was Abraham Mills FRS who switched Martin from zoology to paleontology at some time before 1789. Martin published Figures and Descriptions of Petrifications collected in Derbyshire in 1793.
Martin worked with White Watson
to create joint publications, but the partnership did not work well with Watson claiming that he was not receiving sufficient credit. Martin later published some of Watson's work on fossils using only his own name and without giving credit to Watson. Martin had six children with his "unfortunate, but interesting" wife who, like his parents, had been on the stage before her second marriage to Martin in 1797. In 1798 their son William Charles Linnaeus Martin
was born. He was given the name Linnaeus in honour of Martin's interest in the classification of living things. His son was to write numerous books on natural history after becoming the scientific officer to the Zoological Society.
Martin was employed as a writing teacher, initially working at Burton-on-Trent in 1798, then in Buxton
. Finally, in 1805, he moved to Macclesfield, where he taught at Macclesfield Grammar School. Martin's interest in nature did not diminish and he would send artifacts to James Sowerby
who would illustrate them for him.
Martin did some provincial acting until 1809, and he owned a quarter share in Buxton Theatre. In 1809 he published Petrifacta Derbiensia, which he dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks
. Petrifacta Derbiensia contained illustrations, the first in colour, which helped Martin describe the fossils and Carboniferous
limestone
he had studied in Derbyshire
. Identification was still uncertain. The horn coral, illustrated here, was thought to possibly be from a type of undiscovered bamboo
.
Petrifacta Derbiensia records another fossil which Martin considered a type of straightened Nautilus
. He recounts that White Watson
's uncle and workers at the Ashford Black Marble
quarry called some of the fossils "crocodile tails" as they had been thought to be the remains of a small crocodile tail. Martin thought that none of the fossils in the book were the remains of crocodiles.
Martin also published Outlines of an Attempt to establish a Knowledge of Extraneous Fossils on Scientific Principles in 1809. Martin had published the first scientic study of fossils and palaeontology in English, and he met John Farey
to discuss the possibility of a joint effort to create a geological map of Derbyshire. Martin's consumption
, however, prevented further planning, and he died in Macclesfield at the end of May 1810. He was buried in Christ Church
, Macclesfield and a collection was required to care for his children and his mother.
s was honoured in 1844 when the genus Martinia was named after him. Seven years later he was again remembered when the Derbyshire fossil coral Lithostrotion martini was named. Martin's work and biography is described in the minerals section of Derby Museum and Art Gallery
.
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
. Martin published the first colour pictures of fossils and the first scientific study of fossils in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Biography
Martin was born in MansfieldMansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
in 1767. His father worked in the hosiery business, but he left to become an actor in Ireland with the stage name of Joseph Booth. His father was also an inventor and portrait painter who died in London in 1797. Martin's abandoned mother, who was born Mallatratt, was also an actress.
Whilst still a child he appeared on the stage, both as a five year old dancer, and later giving recitations. It was arranged for Martin to learn draughtsmanship from James Bolton
James Bolton
James Bolton was an English naturalist, botanist, mycologist, and illustrator.-Background:James Bolton was born near Warley in the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1735, the son of William Bolton, a weaver. James initially followed in his father's trade, but later became a self-taught art teacher and...
in Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
. From 1782 to 1785 he was with a Derbyshire acting troupe when he met White Watson
White Watson
White Watson was an early English geologist, sculptor, stonemason and carver, marble-worker and mineral dealer. In common with many learned people of his time, he was skilled in a number of artistic and scientific areas, becoming a writer, poet, journalist, teacher, botanist and gardener as well...
with whom he was to collaborate in a work on Derbyshire fossils. His work with fossils and natural history eventually led to Martin being elected a fellow of the Linnaean Society. Like Watson, Martin was influenced by the work of Derbyshire geologist, John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst
John Whitehurst FRS , of Cheshire, England, was a clockmaker and scientist, and made significant early contributions to geology. He was an influential member of the Lunar Society.- Life and work :...
. Whitehurst had published An Inquiry into the Original State and Formation of the Earth in 1778 which contained an important appendix which concerned General Observations on the Strata in Derbyshire. However, it was Abraham Mills FRS who switched Martin from zoology to paleontology at some time before 1789. Martin published Figures and Descriptions of Petrifications collected in Derbyshire in 1793.
Martin worked with White Watson
White Watson
White Watson was an early English geologist, sculptor, stonemason and carver, marble-worker and mineral dealer. In common with many learned people of his time, he was skilled in a number of artistic and scientific areas, becoming a writer, poet, journalist, teacher, botanist and gardener as well...
to create joint publications, but the partnership did not work well with Watson claiming that he was not receiving sufficient credit. Martin later published some of Watson's work on fossils using only his own name and without giving credit to Watson. Martin had six children with his "unfortunate, but interesting" wife who, like his parents, had been on the stage before her second marriage to Martin in 1797. In 1798 their son William Charles Linnaeus Martin
William Charles Linnaeus Martin
William Charles Linnaeus Martin was an English naturalist.-Biography:William Charles Linnaeus Martin was the son of William Martin who had published early colour books on the fossils of Derbyshire...
was born. He was given the name Linnaeus in honour of Martin's interest in the classification of living things. His son was to write numerous books on natural history after becoming the scientific officer to the Zoological Society.
Martin was employed as a writing teacher, initially working at Burton-on-Trent in 1798, then in Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
. Finally, in 1805, he moved to Macclesfield, where he taught at Macclesfield Grammar School. Martin's interest in nature did not diminish and he would send artifacts to James Sowerby
James Sowerby
James Sowerby was an English naturalist and illustrator. Contributions to published works, such as A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland or English Botany, include his detailed and appealing plates...
who would illustrate them for him.
Martin did some provincial acting until 1809, and he owned a quarter share in Buxton Theatre. In 1809 he published Petrifacta Derbiensia, which he dedicated to Sir Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
. Petrifacta Derbiensia contained illustrations, the first in colour, which helped Martin describe the fossils and Carboniferous
Carboniferous
The Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian Period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Permian Period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Mya . The name is derived from the Latin word for coal, carbo. Carboniferous means "coal-bearing"...
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....
he had studied in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. Identification was still uncertain. The horn coral, illustrated here, was thought to possibly be from a type of undiscovered bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
.
Petrifacta Derbiensia records another fossil which Martin considered a type of straightened Nautilus
Nautilus
Nautilus is the common name of marine creatures of cephalopod family Nautilidae, the sole extant family of the superfamily Nautilaceae and of its smaller but near equal suborder, Nautilina. It comprises six living species in two genera, the type of which is the genus Nautilus...
. He recounts that White Watson
White Watson
White Watson was an early English geologist, sculptor, stonemason and carver, marble-worker and mineral dealer. In common with many learned people of his time, he was skilled in a number of artistic and scientific areas, becoming a writer, poet, journalist, teacher, botanist and gardener as well...
's uncle and workers at the Ashford Black Marble
Ashford Black Marble
Ashford Black Marble is the name given to a dark limestone, quarried from mines near Ashford-in-the-Water, in Derbyshire, England. Once cut, turned and polished, its shiny black surface is highly decorative. Ashford Black Marble is a very fine-grained sedimentary rock, and is not a true marble in...
quarry called some of the fossils "crocodile tails" as they had been thought to be the remains of a small crocodile tail. Martin thought that none of the fossils in the book were the remains of crocodiles.
Martin also published Outlines of an Attempt to establish a Knowledge of Extraneous Fossils on Scientific Principles in 1809. Martin had published the first scientic study of fossils and palaeontology in English, and he met John Farey
John Farey, Sr.
John Farey, Sr. was an English geologist and writer. However, he is better known for a mathematical construct, the Farey sequence named after him.-Biography:...
to discuss the possibility of a joint effort to create a geological map of Derbyshire. Martin's consumption
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, however, prevented further planning, and he died in Macclesfield at the end of May 1810. He was buried in Christ Church
Christ Church, Macclesfield
Christ Church, Macclesfield is a redundant Anglican church in Great King Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is open to visitors at advertised times. ...
, Macclesfield and a collection was required to care for his children and his mother.
Legacy
Martin's work with brachiopodBrachiopod
Brachiopods are a phylum of marine animals that have hard "valves" on the upper and lower surfaces, unlike the left and right arrangement in bivalve molluscs. Brachiopod valves are hinged at the rear end, while the front can be opened for feeding or closed for protection...
s was honoured in 1844 when the genus Martinia was named after him. Seven years later he was again remembered when the Derbyshire fossil coral Lithostrotion martini was named. Martin's work and biography is described in the minerals section of Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery
Derby Museum and Art Gallery was established in 1879, along with Derby Central Library, in a new building designed by Richard Knill Freeman and given to Derby by Michael Thomas Bass. The collection includes a whole gallery displaying the paintings of Joseph Wright of Derby; there is also a large...
.