Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, 1st Baronet KCB FRS (19 February 1792 – 22 October 1871) was a British geologist who first described and investigated the Silurian system.
Murchison was born at Tarradale House, Muir of Ord, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, the son of Kenneth Murchison (died 1796). He attended Durham School, and then the military college at Great Marlow to be trained for the army. In 1808 he landed with Wellesley in Galicia, and was pres...
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Sir Roderick Impey Murchison, 1st Baronet KCB FRS (19 February 1792 – 22 October 1871) was a British geologist who first described and investigated the Silurian system.
Murchison was born at Tarradale House, Muir of Ord, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland, the son of Kenneth Murchison (died 1796). He attended Durham School, and then the military college at Great Marlow to be trained for the army. In 1808 he landed with Wellesley in Galicia, and was present at the actions of Roliça and Vimeiro. Subsequently under Sir John Moore, he took part in the retreat to Corunna and the final battle there.
After eight years of service Murchison left the army, and married Charlotte Hugonin (8 April 1788 - 9 February 1869), the only daughter of General Hugonin, of Nursted House, Hampshire. Murchison and his wife spent two years in mainland Europe, particularly in Italy. They then settled in Barnard Castle, County Durham, England in 1818 where Murchison made the acquaintance of Sir Humphry Davy. Davy urged...
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