author
Sir J. S. (John Smith) Flett
1869–1947
A Scottish geologist with a doctor's training, he became one of the leading figures in British geology in the early 20th century. His work ranged from volcanic eruptions in the Caribbean to the long stewardship of the Geological Survey of Great Britain.
1 Audiobook
James Geikie, the Man and the Geologist
by Marion I. (Marion Isabel) Newbigin, Sir J. S. (John Smith) Flett
About the author
Born in Kirkwall, Orkney, in 1869, John Smith Flett first studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh before turning toward geology. That medical training gave him a careful eye for observation, and he went on to build a strong reputation in petrography, the study of rocks in thin section and under the microscope.
Flett worked for the Geological Survey and became especially known for his studies of igneous rocks and volcanoes. He was part of the scientific investigations that followed the 1902 eruptions in St. Vincent and Martinique, and his research helped deepen understanding of volcanic activity as well as British and Scottish geology.
In 1920 he became Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain, a post he held until 1935. He was later knighted, elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, and remembered not only as a productive scientist but also as a steady and respected scientific leader.