Chris Park

Wedded to the Rocks Chris Park

Adam Sedgwick was one of the leading English geologists in the early nineteenth century. This biography is aimed at the general reader who has an interest in nineteenth century history, with particular reference to the development of modern science (particularly geology), the battle between faith and science, the modernisation of university education, and the changing role of the church. It is written in jargon-free language, and includes a comprehensive bibliography and index. Sedgwick was born in Dent in Yorkshire, son of the local vicar, was educated at Sedbergh School and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was ordained into the Church of England, and in 1818 was appointed Woodwardian Professor of Geology at Cambridge. Among many other claims to fame, he discovered and named the Cambrian and Devonian rock systems, taught geology to Charles Darwin, was a friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, campaigned against the slave trade, helped shape the reform of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, was a Canon at Norwich Cathedral alongside his university roles, and played a central role in the creation-evolution debate. He was a complex and fascinating character, who never dodged a good argument. He was a strong advocate of William Whewell's ideas about induction the search for truth, and was not afraid to ruffle feathers in the church hierarchy about reading the Genesis creation narrative too literally.