Thomas Allan
Encyclopedia
The mineralogist Thomas Allan was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, on 17 July 1777 to a family of Scottish merchants and bankers. He took up banking for his profession, but he is remembered today for his contributions to mineral science
. He died at Linden Hall
, Northumberland
, England, on 12 September 1833.
At an early age Allan became fascinated with mineral
s and he began to accumulate a large mineral collection that was subsequently bequeathed to his son Robert Allan (1806–1863). This collection was later incorporated into Robert Greg's, which was ultimately purchased by the British Museum of Natural History
in the mid-nineteenth century.
In 1813, Allan was influential in securing a position mineralogy post in the Dublin Philosophical Society
for the German mineralogist Karl Ludwig Giesecke
(1761–1833). Allan was elected a Fellow to the Royal Society
of both London and Edinburgh
, and in 1810, he was recognized with a new mineral species from Greenland
, being named "Allanite
" in his honor by Thomas Thomson.
Allan contributed the "Diamond" article for the fifth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
as well as the work on mineralogical nomenclature An Alphabetical List of the Names of Minerals, at Present Most Familiar in the English, French, and German Languages, with Tables of Analyses (Edinburgh, 1805, followed by enlarged editions in 1808, 1814, and 1819).
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, on 17 July 1777 to a family of Scottish merchants and bankers. He took up banking for his profession, but he is remembered today for his contributions to mineral science
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
. He died at Linden Hall
Linden Hall
Linden Hall is a former mansion house at Longhorsley in Northumberland, England which is now operated as a hotel and country club. This includes an 18 hole golf course...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
, England, on 12 September 1833.
At an early age Allan became fascinated with mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s and he began to accumulate a large mineral collection that was subsequently bequeathed to his son Robert Allan (1806–1863). This collection was later incorporated into Robert Greg's, which was ultimately purchased by the British Museum of Natural History
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in the mid-nineteenth century.
In 1813, Allan was influential in securing a position mineralogy post in the Dublin Philosophical Society
Dublin Philosophical Society
The Dublin Philosophical Society was founded in 1683 by William Molyneux. It was intended to be the equivalent of the Royal Society in London, with which it maintained cultural ties. Among its most prominent members were William Petty, Archbishop Narcissus Marsh, Archbishop William King and Bishop...
for the German mineralogist Karl Ludwig Giesecke
Karl Ludwig Giesecke
Karl Ludwig Giesecke was a German actor, librettist, polar explorer and mineralogist. In his youth he was called Johann Georg Metzler, in his later career in Ireland he was Sir Charles Lewis Giesecke.-Early life:His father was Johann Georg Metzler, a Protestant who worked as a tailor in Augsburg...
(1761–1833). Allan was elected a Fellow to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
of both London and 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...
, and in 1810, he was recognized with a new mineral species from Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
, being named "Allanite
Allanite
Allanite is a sorosilicate group of minerals within the broader epidote group that contain a significant amount of rare earth elements. The mineral occurs mainly in metamorphosed clay rich sediments and felsic igneous rocks...
" in his honor by Thomas Thomson.
Allan contributed the "Diamond" article for the fifth edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica
Encyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
as well as the work on mineralogical nomenclature An Alphabetical List of the Names of Minerals, at Present Most Familiar in the English, French, and German Languages, with Tables of Analyses (Edinburgh, 1805, followed by enlarged editions in 1808, 1814, and 1819).