Ben Peach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Peach
FRS FRSE FGS LLD
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Peach (cropped) at Inchnadamph Inn, 1912
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| Born | 6 September 1842  |
| Died | 29 January 1926 (aged 83) |
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Benjamin Neeve Peach (born September 6, 1842 – died January 29, 1926) was a very important British geologist. Geologists are scientists who study the Earth's rocks, how they formed, and how the Earth has changed over millions of years. Peach is famous for helping to solve a big mystery about the rocks in the Scottish Highlands.
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Life of a Geologist
Ben Peach was born in a place called Gorran Haven in Cornwall, England. His father, Charles William Peach, was also a natural history expert and geologist. This probably helped Ben get interested in rocks and nature from a young age!
Ben studied at the Royal School of Mines in London. After finishing his studies, he joined the British Geological Survey in 1862. This is a group of scientists who map out the different types of rocks across a country. In 1867, he moved to the Scottish part of the survey.
Solving the Highlands Mystery
Ben Peach is best known for his amazing work in the Northwest Highlands and Southern Uplands of Scotland. He worked closely with his good friend and fellow geologist, John Horne. Together, they solved a long-standing puzzle called the "Highlands Controversy."
For many years, geologists argued about how the rocks in the Highlands were formed. It was a huge puzzle! Peach and Horne spent years exploring, mapping, and studying the rocks. They discovered that massive layers of rock had been pushed over other layers, sometimes for many miles. This happens because of powerful forces deep inside the Earth.
In 1907, they published a very important book called The Geological Structure of the North-West Highlands of Scotland. This book explained their discoveries and finally solved the mystery of the Highlands' geology. It was a huge achievement in the world of geology!
Awards and Recognition
Because of his important work, Ben Peach received many honors.
- In 1881, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a group of top scientists and thinkers in Scotland.
- He won the Society's Neill Prize between 1883 and 1886.
- He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1892. This is one of the oldest and most respected scientific organizations in the world.
- He even served as the Vice President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1912 to 1917.
- From 1905 to 1908, he was the President of the Geological Society of Glasgow.
- In 1921, he received the Wollaston Medal from the Geological Society. This is one of the highest awards a geologist can get!
A Lasting Tribute
To honor the incredible work of Peach and Horne, a special monument was built at Inchnadamph. This place is very close to the Moine Thrust Belt, which is a huge fault line where they did some of their most famous work. A fault line is like a giant crack in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved.
The monument's inscription says: "To Ben N Peach and John Horne who played the foremost part in unravelling the geological structure of the North West Highlands 1883–1897. An international tribute. Erected 1930." This shows how important their discoveries were to scientists all over the world.
Family Life
Ben Peach was married twice and had several children. He lived in Edinburgh, Scotland, at 72 Grange Loan. He passed away on January 29, 1926, at the age of 83. He is buried in Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.
Geologists Who Worked with Peach
Ben Peach worked with many other talented geologists during his career. Some of them included Charles Barrois, William Savage Boulton, Charles Hawker Dinham, Thomas John Jehu, Aubrey Strahan, Sidney Hugh Reynolds, and James Ernest Richey. Teamwork was very important in solving the complex geological puzzles of Scotland!
See also
- Knockan Crag
- Inchnadamph
- North West Highlands Geopark
- Geology of Scotland
Images for kids
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Peach and Horne monument
