William 'Strata' Smith (23 March 1769– 28 August 1839) was an Englishgeologist, credited with creating the first nationwide geological map. At the time his map was first published he was overlooked by the scientific community; his relatively humble education and family connections prevented him from mixing easily in learned society. Consequently, his work was plagiarised; financially ruined, he spent time in debtors' prison. It was only much later in his life that Smith received recognition for his accomplishments, and became known as the "Father of English Geology".
Early life
Smith was born in the village of Churchill, Oxfordshire, the son of blacksmith John Smith, himself scion of a respectable farming family. His father died when Smith was just eight years old, and he was then raised by his uncle. In 1787, he found work as an assistant for Edward Webb of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, a surveyor. He was quick to learn, and soon became proficient at the trade. In 1791, he travelled to Somerset to make a valuation survey of the Sutton Court estate, and building on earlier work in the same area by John Strachey. He stayed in the area for the next eight years, working first for Webb and later for the Somersetshire Coal Canal Company, living at Rugborne Farm in High Littleton.
From 2010 to 2012, Smith played for the Newcastle Knights' NYC team. On 28 May 2012, he re-signed with the Knights on 1-year contract. In 2013, he moved on to the Knights' New South Wales Cup team. On 25 June 2013, he signed a 2-year contract with the Penrith Panthers starting in 2014.
2014
In Round 21 of the 2014 NRL season, Smith made his NRL debut for the Panthers against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. On 21 September, he was named at five-eighth in the 2014 New South Wales Cup Team of the Year.
William Faulder Smith (14 November 1886–3 March 1937) was an Englishfield hockey player from Carlisle, who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics. He was a member of the British field hockey team, which won the gold medal.
William Smith's unique geological map, published 200 years ago in 1815, helped to shape the economic and scientific development of Britain. Here we celebrate the map and the man. For a brief bio visit: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/archives/williamsmith/home.html
published: 26 Feb 2015
William Smith, an extraordinary Life, part 1
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
published: 07 Sep 2015
A Short History of Geological Mapping: from William Smith to present. With Owen Green & Mike Searle
published: 05 Oct 2021
Map that changed the World - William Smith Strata Map
We heard from Edmund Nickless of the Geological Society of London, George Davis of University of Arizona, and William Smith, the 18th century geologist who seems to be a little out of time.
published: 12 Nov 2015
William Smith, an extraordinary Life, part 2
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
published: 07 Sep 2015
William Smith & Bath by Maurice Tucker
A short account of William Smith, the Father of English Geology, and his time in Somersetshire and Bath 1791-1819 for the Geologist's Association Festival of Geology.
Created and narrated by Maurice Tucker (Earth Sciences, University of Bristol)
published: 30 Aug 2020
Plate Tectonics at 50 (William Smith Meeting, October 2017) Session 1
This first session from the conference looks at the history of scientific developments leading up to the plate tectonics paradigm. After the opening welcome by Malcom Brown (President of the Geological Society) the session is chaired by Rob Butler (University of Aberdeen). Tony Watts’ (University of Oxford) introduction covers the history of tectonic concepts leading up to the 1960s and what happened next. This leads to Hank Frenkel (University of Missouri) looking at the parallel approaches taken by Jason Morgan and Dan McKenzie and the events leading up and following the Spring Meeting of AGU in 1967. Wolf Jacoby (Johannes Gutenberg University) ponders on why Alfred Wegener missed plate tectonics a century ago. Xavier Le Pichon (College de France) provides testimony from the 1960s, how h...
published: 28 Nov 2017
Mary Anning, William Smith, and The Map That Changed the World - University Express
A class about global geology and how we’ve come to understand it during the past two centuries based on stratigraphy and plate tectonics.
Instructor: Philip J. Stokes, PhD, Executive Director, Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve
To learn more about University Express, visit our website: https://www4.erie.gov/universityexpress/
published: 22 Jul 2022
President's Day 2019: William Smith medallist - Frances Wall
Watch the 2019 William Smith medallist, Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, give her President's Day lecture: 'Responsible Manufacturing: Geologists help get it right from the start'.
William Smith's unique geological map, published 200 years ago in 1815, helped to shape the economic and scientific development of Britain. Here we celebrate th...
William Smith's unique geological map, published 200 years ago in 1815, helped to shape the economic and scientific development of Britain. Here we celebrate the map and the man. For a brief bio visit: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/archives/williamsmith/home.html
William Smith's unique geological map, published 200 years ago in 1815, helped to shape the economic and scientific development of Britain. Here we celebrate the map and the man. For a brief bio visit: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/archives/williamsmith/home.html
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of ...
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
We heard from Edmund Nickless of the Geological Society of London, George Davis of University of Arizona, and William Smith, the 18th century geologist who seem...
We heard from Edmund Nickless of the Geological Society of London, George Davis of University of Arizona, and William Smith, the 18th century geologist who seems to be a little out of time.
We heard from Edmund Nickless of the Geological Society of London, George Davis of University of Arizona, and William Smith, the 18th century geologist who seems to be a little out of time.
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of ...
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
A short account of William Smith, the Father of English Geology, and his time in Somersetshire and Bath 1791-1819 for the Geologist's Association Festival of Ge...
A short account of William Smith, the Father of English Geology, and his time in Somersetshire and Bath 1791-1819 for the Geologist's Association Festival of Geology.
Created and narrated by Maurice Tucker (Earth Sciences, University of Bristol)
A short account of William Smith, the Father of English Geology, and his time in Somersetshire and Bath 1791-1819 for the Geologist's Association Festival of Geology.
Created and narrated by Maurice Tucker (Earth Sciences, University of Bristol)
This first session from the conference looks at the history of scientific developments leading up to the plate tectonics paradigm. After the opening welcome by ...
This first session from the conference looks at the history of scientific developments leading up to the plate tectonics paradigm. After the opening welcome by Malcom Brown (President of the Geological Society) the session is chaired by Rob Butler (University of Aberdeen). Tony Watts’ (University of Oxford) introduction covers the history of tectonic concepts leading up to the 1960s and what happened next. This leads to Hank Frenkel (University of Missouri) looking at the parallel approaches taken by Jason Morgan and Dan McKenzie and the events leading up and following the Spring Meeting of AGU in 1967. Wolf Jacoby (Johannes Gutenberg University) ponders on why Alfred Wegener missed plate tectonics a century ago. Xavier Le Pichon (College de France) provides testimony from the 1960s, how he tested and then summarised plate tectonics concepts and then presents new ideas on the eastern Mediterranean. The discussion period looks at why other evidence, especially palaeomagnetism, was overlooked and then how quickly plate tectonics was adopted, taught and communicated. This set of presentations comes from a three-day meeting (3-5 October 2017) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the advent of the paradigm of plate tectonics. The meeting was convened to examine the state of the art and scope out new directions. There are 9 other sessions available to view together with the William Smith lecture by Dan McKenzie that concludes the meeting.
This first session from the conference looks at the history of scientific developments leading up to the plate tectonics paradigm. After the opening welcome by Malcom Brown (President of the Geological Society) the session is chaired by Rob Butler (University of Aberdeen). Tony Watts’ (University of Oxford) introduction covers the history of tectonic concepts leading up to the 1960s and what happened next. This leads to Hank Frenkel (University of Missouri) looking at the parallel approaches taken by Jason Morgan and Dan McKenzie and the events leading up and following the Spring Meeting of AGU in 1967. Wolf Jacoby (Johannes Gutenberg University) ponders on why Alfred Wegener missed plate tectonics a century ago. Xavier Le Pichon (College de France) provides testimony from the 1960s, how he tested and then summarised plate tectonics concepts and then presents new ideas on the eastern Mediterranean. The discussion period looks at why other evidence, especially palaeomagnetism, was overlooked and then how quickly plate tectonics was adopted, taught and communicated. This set of presentations comes from a three-day meeting (3-5 October 2017) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the advent of the paradigm of plate tectonics. The meeting was convened to examine the state of the art and scope out new directions. There are 9 other sessions available to view together with the William Smith lecture by Dan McKenzie that concludes the meeting.
A class about global geology and how we’ve come to understand it during the past two centuries based on stratigraphy and plate tectonics.
Instructor: Philip J....
A class about global geology and how we’ve come to understand it during the past two centuries based on stratigraphy and plate tectonics.
Instructor: Philip J. Stokes, PhD, Executive Director, Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve
To learn more about University Express, visit our website: https://www4.erie.gov/universityexpress/
A class about global geology and how we’ve come to understand it during the past two centuries based on stratigraphy and plate tectonics.
Instructor: Philip J. Stokes, PhD, Executive Director, Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve
To learn more about University Express, visit our website: https://www4.erie.gov/universityexpress/
Watch the 2019 William Smith medallist, Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, give her President's Day lecture: 'Respon...
Watch the 2019 William Smith medallist, Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, give her President's Day lecture: 'Responsible Manufacturing: Geologists help get it right from the start'.
Watch the 2019 William Smith medallist, Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, give her President's Day lecture: 'Responsible Manufacturing: Geologists help get it right from the start'.
William Smith's unique geological map, published 200 years ago in 1815, helped to shape the economic and scientific development of Britain. Here we celebrate the map and the man. For a brief bio visit: http://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/archives/williamsmith/home.html
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
We heard from Edmund Nickless of the Geological Society of London, George Davis of University of Arizona, and William Smith, the 18th century geologist who seems to be a little out of time.
The Scarborough Museums Trust commissioned us to conceive, write and produce a series of 5 short videos for their exhibition commemorating the life and work of William Smith and the bicentenary of the publication of his geological map of Britain.
William Smith may be the most important historical figure that you've never heard of and his work, which arguably turbo charged the nascent industrial revolution, changed the world.
A short account of William Smith, the Father of English Geology, and his time in Somersetshire and Bath 1791-1819 for the Geologist's Association Festival of Geology.
Created and narrated by Maurice Tucker (Earth Sciences, University of Bristol)
This first session from the conference looks at the history of scientific developments leading up to the plate tectonics paradigm. After the opening welcome by Malcom Brown (President of the Geological Society) the session is chaired by Rob Butler (University of Aberdeen). Tony Watts’ (University of Oxford) introduction covers the history of tectonic concepts leading up to the 1960s and what happened next. This leads to Hank Frenkel (University of Missouri) looking at the parallel approaches taken by Jason Morgan and Dan McKenzie and the events leading up and following the Spring Meeting of AGU in 1967. Wolf Jacoby (Johannes Gutenberg University) ponders on why Alfred Wegener missed plate tectonics a century ago. Xavier Le Pichon (College de France) provides testimony from the 1960s, how he tested and then summarised plate tectonics concepts and then presents new ideas on the eastern Mediterranean. The discussion period looks at why other evidence, especially palaeomagnetism, was overlooked and then how quickly plate tectonics was adopted, taught and communicated. This set of presentations comes from a three-day meeting (3-5 October 2017) celebrating the 50th anniversary of the advent of the paradigm of plate tectonics. The meeting was convened to examine the state of the art and scope out new directions. There are 9 other sessions available to view together with the William Smith lecture by Dan McKenzie that concludes the meeting.
A class about global geology and how we’ve come to understand it during the past two centuries based on stratigraphy and plate tectonics.
Instructor: Philip J. Stokes, PhD, Executive Director, Penn Dixie Fossil Park & Nature Reserve
To learn more about University Express, visit our website: https://www4.erie.gov/universityexpress/
Watch the 2019 William Smith medallist, Frances Wall, Professor of Applied Mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines, give her President's Day lecture: 'Responsible Manufacturing: Geologists help get it right from the start'.
William 'Strata' Smith (23 March 1769– 28 August 1839) was an Englishgeologist, credited with creating the first nationwide geological map. At the time his map was first published he was overlooked by the scientific community; his relatively humble education and family connections prevented him from mixing easily in learned society. Consequently, his work was plagiarised; financially ruined, he spent time in debtors' prison. It was only much later in his life that Smith received recognition for his accomplishments, and became known as the "Father of English Geology".
Early life
Smith was born in the village of Churchill, Oxfordshire, the son of blacksmith John Smith, himself scion of a respectable farming family. His father died when Smith was just eight years old, and he was then raised by his uncle. In 1787, he found work as an assistant for Edward Webb of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, a surveyor. He was quick to learn, and soon became proficient at the trade. In 1791, he travelled to Somerset to make a valuation survey of the Sutton Court estate, and building on earlier work in the same area by John Strachey. He stayed in the area for the next eight years, working first for Webb and later for the Somersetshire Coal Canal Company, living at Rugborne Farm in High Littleton.