John Baird Simpson
Encyclopedia
John Baird Simpson was a Scottish geologist.
Simpson was born at Glenferness, Ardclach
, Nairnshire, Scotland. After schooling at Nairn Academy, he went to the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated with a BSc in Agriculture, in 1914. He joined the Royal Engineers that same year, and was then commissioned in the Gordon Highlanders. He was wounded, and badly gassed, during active service in France. He returned to civil life in 1918, and resumed his studies at the University of Aberdeen
later that year, graduating in 1920 with a degree in Pure Science, with special distinction in Geology.
Later in 1920, he was appointed to the field staff of the Geological Survey in Scotland. He was promoted to Senior Geologist in 1932, and to District Geologist in 1945. He retired in 1954. His work with the Survey fell into two broad categories. He carried out a lot of the early earliest mapping of the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, including the Lewisian
of Coll
and Tiree
, the Mesozoic sediments and Tertiary lavas of Morvern
and Ardnamurchan
, and the Moine Schists of Ardnamurchan, Sunart and South Morar. Some of his most important work concerned the Scottish Coalfields and their associated rocks, in Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Dumbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Midlothian
, leading to significant upward revisions to reserves estimates. He mapped superficial deposits, in particular the boulder clays of Ayrshire, which led to new time-correlations of glacial events in Scotland and Scandinavia. Some of this work was submitted to the University of Aberdeen for the degree of DSc, which was conferred on him in 1933.
The other aspect of his work built on his early agricultural and botanical training, and he became a recognised authority on fossil pollen. In large part, this work was "private research", as opposed to "official", meaning that it was done in his spare time, not as part of his Survey duties. The work led to significant conclusions, though, and was published in journals such as the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
(of which he was a fellow, from 1932, was President from 1950 to 1952, and served on the Council between 1952 and 1955), the Geological Magazine, and the Transactions of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Geological Societies. He became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1949. He was awarded the Clough Medal by the Edinburgh Geological Society
, for the period 1953-4, and the Lyell Medal
by the Geological Society of London, in 1954. Many undergraduates studying geology and, as part of their practical training having to interpret the Sanquhar sheet, in Southern Scotland, will have thanked him for the challenges set by his mapping this complex geological setting.
Two obituaries capture the character of the man nicely: "Johnnie Simpson was a man of exceptional kindliness, generosity and charm, loved by all of his friends ... [his professional] reputation was the result of a patient and selfless devotion to research worthy of the high traditions of Scottish natural science"; and "To be his companion on a Highland traverse was ... both an inspiration and memory to treasure. He possessed other qualities - an innate courtesy, forbearance, helpfulness and loyalty - which gained for him the affection of many friends and for which he will long be remembered ... the end came as he himself might surely have wished it to come. He was found lying peacefully by the banks of his beloved [River] Findhorn with his rod and line stretched out over its grey waters. The country laddie from Glenferness had travelled far and risen high but had come home at last."
Simpson was born at Glenferness, Ardclach
Ardclach
Ardclach is a small crofting hamlet, close to Glenferness in the old county of Nairn, Scotland, within the Scottish council area of Highland....
, Nairnshire, Scotland. After schooling at Nairn Academy, he went to the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated with a BSc in Agriculture, in 1914. He joined the Royal Engineers that same year, and was then commissioned in the Gordon Highlanders. He was wounded, and badly gassed, during active service in France. He returned to civil life in 1918, and resumed his studies at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
later that year, graduating in 1920 with a degree in Pure Science, with special distinction in Geology.
Later in 1920, he was appointed to the field staff of the Geological Survey in Scotland. He was promoted to Senior Geologist in 1932, and to District Geologist in 1945. He retired in 1954. His work with the Survey fell into two broad categories. He carried out a lot of the early earliest mapping of the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland, including the Lewisian
Lewisian complex
The Lewisian complex or Lewisian Gneiss is a suite of Precambrian metamorphic rocks that outcrop in the northwestern part of Scotland, forming part of the Hebridean Terrane. These rocks are of Archaean and Paleoproterozoic age, ranging from 3.0–1.7 Ga. They form the basement on which the...
of Coll
Coll
Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:...
and Tiree
Tiree
-History:Tiree is known for the 1st century BC Dùn Mòr broch, for the prehistoric carved Ringing Stone and for the birds of the Ceann a' Mhara headland....
, the Mesozoic sediments and Tertiary lavas of Morvern
Morvern
Morvern is a peninsula in south west Lochaber, on the west coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic A' Mhorbhairne . The highest point is the summit of the Corbett Creach Bheinn which reaches in elevation....
and Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan
Ardnamurchan is a peninsula in Lochaber, Highland, Scotland, noted for being very unspoilt and undisturbed. Its remoteness is accentuated by the main access route being a single track road for much of its length.-Geography:...
, and the Moine Schists of Ardnamurchan, Sunart and South Morar. Some of his most important work concerned the Scottish Coalfields and their associated rocks, in Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, Dumbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, leading to significant upward revisions to reserves estimates. He mapped superficial deposits, in particular the boulder clays of Ayrshire, which led to new time-correlations of glacial events in Scotland and Scandinavia. Some of this work was submitted to the University of Aberdeen for the degree of DSc, which was conferred on him in 1933.
The other aspect of his work built on his early agricultural and botanical training, and he became a recognised authority on fossil pollen. In large part, this work was "private research", as opposed to "official", meaning that it was done in his spare time, not as part of his Survey duties. The work led to significant conclusions, though, and was published in journals such as the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
(of which he was a fellow, from 1932, was President from 1950 to 1952, and served on the Council between 1952 and 1955), the Geological Magazine, and the Transactions of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Geological Societies. He became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London in 1949. He was awarded the Clough Medal by the Edinburgh Geological Society
Edinburgh Geological Society
The Edinburgh Geological Society was founded in 1834 in Edinburgh, Scotland, with the aim of stimulating public interest in geology and the advancement of geological knowledge...
, for the period 1953-4, and the Lyell Medal
Lyell Medal
The Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
by the Geological Society of London, in 1954. Many undergraduates studying geology and, as part of their practical training having to interpret the Sanquhar sheet, in Southern Scotland, will have thanked him for the challenges set by his mapping this complex geological setting.
Two obituaries capture the character of the man nicely: "Johnnie Simpson was a man of exceptional kindliness, generosity and charm, loved by all of his friends ... [his professional] reputation was the result of a patient and selfless devotion to research worthy of the high traditions of Scottish natural science"; and "To be his companion on a Highland traverse was ... both an inspiration and memory to treasure. He possessed other qualities - an innate courtesy, forbearance, helpfulness and loyalty - which gained for him the affection of many friends and for which he will long be remembered ... the end came as he himself might surely have wished it to come. He was found lying peacefully by the banks of his beloved [River] Findhorn with his rod and line stretched out over its grey waters. The country laddie from Glenferness had travelled far and risen high but had come home at last."