James Hall (geologist)

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Sir James Hall, 4th Baronet (born January 17, 1761 in Dunglass , Scotland , † June 23, 1832 in Edinburgh , Scotland), was a Scottish-British geologist and politician.

Life

He was the son of Sir John Hall, 3rd Baronet, and Magdalen Pringle, daughter of Sir Robert Pringle, 3rd Baronet. In 1776, when his father died, he inherited the hereditary title of Baronet , of Dunglass in the County of Haddington .

He studied at Cambridge University and Edinburgh University . He founded experimental geology by artificially producing various types of rock in the laboratory. He was a collaborator of James Hutton and, like him, supporter of Plutonism .

He traveled extensively in Europe to study geological formations of the Alps and Mount Etna . He noticed the resemblance of lava flows in Italy to those in Scotland.

From 1807 to 1812 he was a Member of the House of Commons for the Mitchell constituency . From 1812 to 1820 he was President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh .

In 1786 he had married Lady Helen Hamilton Douglas, daughter of Dunbar Douglas, 4th Earl of Selkirk . With her he had three daughters and three sons, including his title heir Sir John Hall, 5th Baronet (1787-1860) and Basil Hall , a well-known traveler and writer . The medic and President of the Royal Society Sir John Pringle , 1st Baronet (of Pall Mall) was his great-uncle.

He is not to be confused with the American geologist James Hall .

literature

personal data
SURNAME Hall, James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Hall, Sir James, 4th Baronet
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Scottish-British geologist and politician
DATE OF BIRTH January 17, 1761
PLACE OF BIRTH Dunglass , Scotland
DATE OF DEATH June 23, 1832
Place of death Edinburgh , Scotland