Lewis Leigh Fermor
Encyclopedia
Sir Lewis Leigh Fermor OBE
FRS (London
, England
, 18 September 1880 - Horsell
, Woking
, Surrey
, England
, 26 May 1954) was an English geologist
and the first president of the Indian National Science Academy
. His son was the writer and traveller, Patrick Leigh Fermor
.
He was educated at Wilson's Grammar School in Camberwell and studied metallurgy
at the Royal School of Mines
.
His first wife, Muriel Eileen (or Aeyleen) (26 April 1890 - 22 October 1977, Brighton), was the daughter of Charles Taafe Ambler (1840-1925) whose father was Warrant Officer (William) James Ambler on HMS Bellerophon
when Napoleon surrendered to it.
Lewis Leigh Fermor was one of the founders of geology in India. His major interest was in Archaean geology
, and in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
In 1921 he was awarded the Bigsby Medal
of the Geological Society of London
. He was president of the 20th session of the Indian Science Congress in 1933. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1934, and he was knighted by the Government of India
in 1935.
He first described the mineral Hollandite (1906) and the mineral Fermorite, discovered in 1910, is named after him.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FRS (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
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...
, 18 September 1880 - Horsell
Horsell
Horsell in Surrey is an ancient village nearby to the more modern 19th century Woking, probably best known because of its association with the story The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells. It is the home of the book's narrator , and the landing site of the first Martian transport vessel...
, Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
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...
, 26 May 1954) was an English 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 the first president of the Indian National Science Academy
Indian National Science Academy
The Indian National Science Academy , New Delhi is the apex body of Indian scientists representing all branches of science & technology.-History:...
. His son was the writer and traveller, Patrick Leigh Fermor
Patrick Leigh Fermor
Sir Patrick "Paddy" Michael Leigh Fermor, DSO, OBE was a British author, scholar and soldier, who played a prominent role behind the lines in the Cretan resistance during World War II. He was widely regarded as "Britain's greatest living travel writer", with books including his classic A Time of...
.
He was educated at Wilson's Grammar School in Camberwell and studied metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
at the Royal School of Mines
Royal School of Mines
Royal School of Mines comprises the departments of Earth Science and Engineering, and Materials at Imperial College London.- History :The Royal School of Mines was established in 1851, as the Government School of Mines and Science Applied to the Arts...
.
His first wife, Muriel Eileen (or Aeyleen) (26 April 1890 - 22 October 1977, Brighton), was the daughter of Charles Taafe Ambler (1840-1925) whose father was Warrant Officer (William) James Ambler on HMS Bellerophon
HMS Bellerophon (1786)
The first HMS Bellerophon of the Royal Navy was a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line launched on 6 October 1786 at Frindsbury on the River Medway, near Chatham. She was built at the shipyard of Edward Greaves to the specifications of the Arrogant, designed by Sir Thomas Slade in 1758, the lead ship...
when Napoleon surrendered to it.
Lewis Leigh Fermor was one of the founders of geology in India. His major interest was in Archaean geology
Archean
The Archean , also spelled Archeozoic or Archæozoic) is a geologic eon before the Paleoproterozoic Era of the Proterozoic Eon, before 2.5 Ga ago. Instead of being based on stratigraphy, this date is defined chronometrically...
, and in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
In 1921 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...
of 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 president of the 20th session of the Indian Science Congress in 1933. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1934, and he was knighted by the Government of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in 1935.
He first described the mineral Hollandite (1906) and the mineral Fermorite, discovered in 1910, is named after him.
External links
- Obituary of Sir Lewis Leigh Fermor from the Proceedings of the Indian Academy of SciencesIndian Academy of SciencesThe Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Sir C. V. Raman, and was registered as a Society on 24 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it began with 65 founding fellows. The first general meeting of Fellows, held on the same day, elected Professor Raman as President, and adopted...
, Vol.23 (Sept. 1954), p. 285-286.