Biographical Sketch of Sir R. I. Murchison^ Bart.^ F.R.8. 485 



Gold Medal, in 1864, in recognition of his contributions to geology 

 as an inductive science. The Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and 

 Dublin have also bestowed on him their Honorary Degree. 



He held for many years the post of a Trustee to the British Museum, 

 with great advantage to the Natural History Departments in that 

 Institution, which he specially promoted. 



Sir Eoderick was created, in 1863, a Knight Commandant of the 

 Order of the Bath (civil division), and in the following year he 

 received the prize named after Baron Cuvier from the French 

 Institute. In 1859 the Eoyal Society of Scotland presented him 

 with their first Brisbane gold medal, for his scientific classification 

 of the Highland rocks, and for the establishment of the remarkable 

 fact that the Gneiss of the north-west coasts is the oldest rock in the 

 British Islands. He was created a baronet in January, 1866. 



One of his latest acts consisted in offering the munificent sum of 

 £6,000 to found a Chair of Geology and Mineralogy in the Univer- 

 sity of Edinburgh, on condition that the Government would supple- 

 ment the proceeds by an annual grant of £200. This was duly 

 acceded to, and the chair so endowed, is now held by Professor 

 Geikie, F.E.S., etc. 



The death of Lady Murchison in 1869 was most keenly felt by 

 Sir Eoderick, indeed it may be said to have given him a shock from 

 which he never wholly recovered. He was first attacked by 

 paralysis in December, 1870, but gradually rallied until two months 

 since, when he had a second stroke, but the symptoms had lately 

 abated. A slight attack of bronchitis, caused by a cold caught in 

 riding out on the 19th ulto., ended his valuable and well-spent life 

 on Sunday evening, Oct. 22, at 8.30 p.m. 



His scientific career, now brought to a close, represents the period 

 of the dawn and development of Geology as a science in this 

 country. He commenced work at the moment when William Smith 

 issued the first Geologically-coloured map of England, and he has 

 lived on to see half the world surveyed geologically, and has him- 

 self mapped a vast extent of territory in Europe for his Silurian 

 kingdom. 



In conclusion (to quote the words of the Daily Neios), "the 

 honours he won are a great testimony to the scientific enlighten- 

 ment of the age. We have crowned Science Queen, and all her 

 servants form her court, and wear the titles she bestows. And, 

 truly, a scientific man earns his honours more nobly, and wears them 

 more honourably, than those who win them in political intrigiie or 

 on the field of battle. Sir Eoderick Murchison, dying at eightj^ 

 covered with titles of literary and scientific honour, and satisfied 

 with social position and renown, is a prophet of the coming time. 

 He may not be looked back on as a great scientific genius ; but he is 

 one of the pioneers of that new order of renown which is won by 

 fruitful service rather than by destructive deeds." 



(We are indebted to the Times of October 23rd, for a part of the 

 foregoing sketch. — Edit. Geol. Mag.) 



