Famous Geologists - List of Famous Geologists

A geologist is a scientist who specializes in the study of the earth. Geologists analyze the materials that make up the earth, the structure of the earth, and the processes going on under and above the surface of the earth. Geology is also concerned with the history of the earth, how the materials, structures, processes and the organisms have changed over time. It is a field of science that attempts to understand the history of our planet through the examination of the earth’s crust, rocks, minerals, and fossil remains. Geologists need to a strong base in other sciences like physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics also to be able to explain the various phenomena that affect the earth. As compared to other scientists, they are required to spend more time outdoors though laboratory work is also essential to analyze the samples. Geologists try to understand why natural processes like earthquakes, landslides, floods, etc. occur and how man can take precautions to minimize damage from these disasters. They also study and help to locate various types of materials found in earth like petroleum, metals, underground water, etc. which are of use to human beings. Geologists analyze fossil remains of the ancient organisms that once inhabited the earth in order to determine the process of evolution and climate change. This section provides you with biographies and timelines which contain information about the life and works of various famous geologists from all over the world.

The Most Famous Geologists

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
Charles DarwinFebruary 12, 1809BritishCharles Darwin was one of the most influential figures in human history
Robert BallardJune 30, 1942AmericanDr
Inge LehmannMay 13, 1888DanishInge Lehmann was a Danish seismologist who discovered the fact that the core of the Earth was solid
Mikhail LomonosovNovember 19, 1711RussianMikhail Lomonosov was a Russian scientist, poet, geologist and astronomer
Stephen Jay GouldSeptember 10, 1941AmericanStephen Jay Gould was a famous paleontologist and one of the most read science writers of his times
Douglas MawsonMay 5, 1882AustralianSir Douglas Mawson was an Australian explorer, geologist and academic
William Morris DavisFebruary 12, 1850AmericanWilliam Morris Davis was an American geographer, geologist, and meteorologist, who founded the science of geomorphology
Birbal Sahni1891IndianBirbal Sahni was an Indian palaeobotanist who founded the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow
John Wesley PowellMarch 24, 1834AmericanJohn Wesley Powell was an American explorer, anthropologist, geologist and a soldier
Charles LyellNovember 14, 1797BritishCharles Lyell was a pioneering geologist from Britain, who studied the underlying forces which shaped the earth’s surface to its present day form
William Morris Davis

William Morris Davis

William Morris Davis was an American geographer, geologist, and meteorologist, who founded the science of geomorphology

AmericanFebruary 12, 1850181 views

Mikhail Lomonosov

Mikhail Lomonosov was a Russian scientist, poet, geologist and astronomer

RussianNovember 19, 1711207 views

Ferdinand von Richthofen

Ferdinand Freiherr von Richthofen was a German geographer, geologist and traveler

GermanMay 5, 1833142 views

Inge Lehmann

Inge Lehmann was a Danish seismologist who discovered the fact that the core of the Earth was solid

DanishMay 13, 1888215 views

Douglas Mawson

Sir Douglas Mawson was an Australian explorer, geologist and academic

AustralianMay 5, 1882184 views

John Wesley Powell

John Wesley Powell was an American explorer, anthropologist, geologist and a soldier

AmericanMarch 24, 1834154 views

Birbal Sahni

Birbal Sahni was an Indian palaeobotanist who founded the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany in Lucknow

Indian1891169 views

Louis Agassiz

Louis Agassiz was a Swiss biologist who studied natural history and founded the ‘Museum of Comparative Zoology’ in Harvard University

AmericanMay 28, 1807117 views

William Hopkins

William Hopkins was a renowned British mathematician and geologist who discovered that melting point of a substance rises with increasing pressure

BritishFebruary 2, 1793122 views

Charles Lyell

Charles Lyell was a pioneering geologist from Britain, who studied the underlying forces which shaped the earth’s surface to its present day form

BritishNovember 14, 1797149 views