Christian Leopold von Buch | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Christian Leopold von Buch, byCarl Joseph Begas (1850) | |
| Born | (1774-04-26)26 April 1774 |
| Died | 4 March 1853(1853-03-04) (aged 78) |
| Known for | Jurassic System Andesite Magma mixing Elevation crater theory[1] |
| Awards | Wollaston Medal(1842) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Geology |
Christian Leopold von Buch (26 April 1774 – 4 March 1853), usually cited asLeopold von Buch, was a Germangeologist andpaleontologist born in Stolpe an der Oder (now a part ofAngermünde,Brandenburg) and is remembered as one of the most important contributors to geology in the first half of the nineteenth century. His scientific interest was devoted to a broad spectrum of geological topics:volcanism,petrology,fossils,stratigraphy andmountain formation. His most remembered accomplishment is the scientific definition of theJurassic system.
Buch studied withAlexander von Humboldt underAbraham Gottlob Werner at themining school inFreiberg, Saxony. He afterwards completed his education at the universities ofHalle andGöttingen.[2]
He began writing on geological topics early in life. HisVersuch einer mineralogischen Beschreibung von Landeck (Breslau, 1797) was translated into French (Paris, 1805), and into English asAttempt at a Mineralogical Description ofLandeck (Edinburgh, 1810). In 1802 he publishedEntwurf einer geognostischen Beschreibung von Schlesien ("TheGeognosy ofSilesia"), which became the first volume of hisGeognostische Beobachtungen auf Reisen durch Deutschland und Italien ("Geognistic Observations while Travelling through Germany and Italy", see below). He was at this time a zealous upholder of theNeptunian theory of Werner, with some modifications. In 1797, he met Humboldt atSalzburg, and with him explored the geological formations ofStyria, and the adjoiningAlps.[3] In the spring of 1798, Buch extended his excursions intoItaly, where his faith in the Neptunian theory was shaken. In his early works, he had advocated the aqueous origin of basaltic and other formations,[2] but now he saw cause to abandon Werner's theory, and to recognize the volcanic origin of thebasalts.
He sawVesuvius for the first time in 1799. Later, in 1805, he had the opportunity, along with Humboldt andGay Lussac, of witnessing its actual eruption. It was a remarkable eruption, and supplied Buch with data for refuting many erroneous ideas then entertained regarding volcanoes. In 1802 he examined the extinct volcanoes ofAuvergne in the south ofFrance. The aspect of thePuy de Dôme, with its cone oftrachyte and its strata of basaltic lava, induced him to abandon as untenable the doctrines of Werner on the formation of these rocks. The results of all these geological travels were given to the world in the two volumes of hisGeognostische Beobachtungen (Berlin, 1802 and 1809).[2]
In 1806, Buch proceeded toScandinavia and spent two years in examining its physical constitution. Among other, he studied theOslo Graben, a map of which is on the cover of his book.[4] This furnished the materials for his work entitledReise durch Norwegen und Lappland ("Travels in Norway and Lapland", Berlin, 1810). He made many important observations on the geography of plants, on climatology and on geology. He showed that many of theerratic blocks on the North German plains must have come from Scandinavia. He also established the fact that the whole ofSweden is slowly but continuously rising above the level of the sea fromFrederikshald (Halden) toÅbo (Turku).[2]
In 1815 Buch visited theCanary Islands in company withChristen Smith, a Norwegian botanist. These volcanic isles furnished the starting point from which Buch commenced a regular course of study on the production and activity of volcanoes. This is attested by his standard work on the subject entitledPhysical Description of the Canary Isles (1825). His observations convinced him that these and other islands of the Atlantic owed their existence to volcanic action of the most intense kind, whereas the groups of islands in the South Sea were the remains of a pre-existing continent.[2] During his time in the Canary Islands, he visited the Las CañadasCaldera on Tenerife and theCaldera de Taburiente on La Palma. When he published his memoirs and observations about his excursion, he introduced the Spanish word "Caldera" (meaning "Bowl") into the geological and scientific vocabulary.[citation needed] After his return from the Canaries he visited the basaltic group of theHebrides and the coasts ofScotland andIreland.[2]
Buch's geological excursions, even in countries which he had repeatedly visited before, continued without interruption until a very advanced age: eight months before his death he visited the mountains of Auvergne, and on returning home he read a paper on the Jurassic formation before the Academy of Berlin. Humboldt, who had known him intimately for a period of more than sixty years, called him the greatest geologist of that period. Buch was unmarried and lived aloof from the world, entirely devoted to scientific pursuits. His excursions were always taken on foot, with a staff in his hand, and the large pockets of his overcoat filled with papers and geological instruments.[5]
In the third edition of hisOn the Origin of Species published in 1861,Charles Darwin added aHistorical Sketch giving due credit to naturalists who had preceded him in publishing the opinion that species undergo modification, and that the existing forms of life have descended by true generation from pre-existing forms. According to Darwin:
Evolutionary biologistErnst Mayr has written that Buch was the first naturalist to suggestgeographic speciation, in 1825.[7]
In 1825, he was elected a foreign member of theRoyal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Buch was elected a Foreign Honorary Member of theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1849.[8]
Recipient of thePour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts.[9]
Elected as the first foreign member of theGeological Society of London.
TheGerman Geological Society (DGG) named itsLeopold-von-Buch-Plakette after him.
Besides the works already mentioned, paleontology works by von Buch include:
Other books include:
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Buch, Christian Leopold von, Baron".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 4 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 713–714.| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
