Jean-Étienne Guettard
Encyclopedia
Jean-Étienne Guettard French
naturalist
and mineralogist, was born at Étampes
, near Paris.
In boyhood, he gained a knowledge of plant
s from his grandfather, who was an apothecary
, and later he qualified as a doctor in medicine
. Pursuing the study of botany
in various parts of France
and other countries, he began to take notice of the relation between the distribution of plants and the soil
s and subsoil
s. In this way his attention came to be directed to mineral
s and rocks
.
In 1746, he communicated to the Academy of Sciences in Paris
a memoir on the distribution of minerals and rocks, and this was accompanied by a map
on which he had recorded his observations. He thus, as remarked by W. D. Conybeare, "first carried into execution the idea, proposed by Martin Lister
years before, of geological maps." In the course of his journeys he made a large collection of fossil
s and figured many of them, but he had no clear ideas about the sequence of strata
.
He made observations also on the degradation
of mountains by rain, rivers and sea; and he was the first to ascertain the existence of former volcano
es in the district of Auvergne
.
In 1759, Guettard was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
.
He died in Paris on the 7th of January 1786.
His publications include:
See The Founders of Geology, by Sir A Geikie
(1897).
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...
naturalist
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...
and mineralogist, was born at Étampes
Étampes
Étampes is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southwest from the center of Paris . Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department....
, near Paris.
In boyhood, he gained a knowledge of plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s from his grandfather, who was an apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
, and later he qualified as a doctor in medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
. Pursuing the study of botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
in various parts of France
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...
and other countries, he began to take notice of the relation between the distribution of plants and the soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
s and subsoil
Subsoil
Subsoil, or substrata, is the layer of soil under the topsoil on the surface of the ground. The subsoil may include substances such as clay and/or sand that has only been partially broken down by air, sunlight, water, wind etc., to produce true soil...
s. In this way his attention came to be directed to mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s and rocks
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
.
In 1746, he communicated to the Academy of Sciences in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
a memoir on the distribution of minerals and rocks, and this was accompanied by a map
Map
A map is a visual representation of an area—a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that space such as objects, regions, and themes....
on which he had recorded his observations. He thus, as remarked by W. D. Conybeare, "first carried into execution the idea, proposed by Martin Lister
Martin Lister
Martin Lister FRS was an English naturalist and physician.-Life:Lister was born at Radcliffe, near Buckingham, the son of Sir Martin Lister MP for Brackley in the Long Parliament and his wife Susan Temple daughter of Sir Alexander Temple. Lister was connected to a number of well known individuals...
years before, of geological maps." In the course of his journeys he made a large collection of fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s and figured many of them, but he had no clear ideas about the sequence of strata
Stratum
In geology and related fields, a stratum is a layer of sedimentary rock or soil with internally consistent characteristics that distinguish it from other layers...
.
He made observations also on the degradation
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
of mountains by rain, rivers and sea; and he was the first to ascertain the existence of former volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es in the district of Auvergne
Auvergne (province)
Auvergne was a historic province in south central France. It was originally the feudal domain of the Counts of Auvergne. It is now the geographical and cultural area that corresponds to the former province....
.
In 1759, Guettard was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences or Kungliga Vetenskapsakademien is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Academy is an independent, non-governmental scientific organization which acts to promote the sciences, primarily the natural sciences and mathematics.The Academy was founded on 2...
.
He died in Paris on the 7th of January 1786.
His publications include:
- Observations sur les plantes (2 vols, 1747)
- Histoire de la découverte faite en France de matières semblables à celles dont la porcelaine de la Chine est composée (1765)
- Mémoires sur différentes parties des sciences et arts (5 vols, 1768–1783)
- Mémoires sur la minéralogie du Dauphiné (2 vols, 1779).
- Atlas et description minéralogiques de la France (1780)
See The Founders of Geology, by Sir A Geikie
Archibald Geikie
Sir Archibald Geikie, OM, KCB, PRS, FRSE , was a Scottish geologist and writer.-Early life:Geikie was born in Edinburgh in 1835, the eldest son of musician and music critic James Stuart Geikie...
(1897).