Edward William Binney facts for kids

Edward William Binney (born in 1812, died in 1882) was an important English geologist. A geologist is a scientist who studies the Earth, including its rocks, soil, and history. Binney was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very old and respected group of scientists.

Edward Binney's Early Life

Edward William Binney was born in a place called Morton in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1812. When he was younger, he trained to be a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer, in Chesterfield. However, in 1836, he moved to Manchester. Soon after, he decided to stop working as a lawyer so he could spend all his time studying geology, which was his true passion.

Contributions to Geology

Binney made many important contributions to the study of geology. In 1838, he helped to start the Manchester Geological Society. He was later chosen to be its president in 1857 and again in 1865. He also served as the secretary and then the president of the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, another important scientific group.

Binney spent a lot of time studying the rocks from the Carboniferous and Permian periods in northern England. He also looked at the Drift deposits, which are layers of sand, gravel, and clay left by glaciers, in Lancashire.

One of his most notable discoveries was finding the first coal balls, which are round, fossil-rich lumps found in coal seams. He found these with another famous scientist, Joseph Dalton Hooker. Together, they also studied the geology of the area around Manchester.

Binney became a leading expert on the Coal Measures, which are rock layers that contain coal. His detailed book, Observations on the Structure of Fossil Plants found in the Carboniferous Strata (published between 1868 and 1875), was a key study for the Palaeontographical Society. He collected a very large number of fossils, which were later placed in Owens College for others to study.

Friendships and Recognition

Edward Binney was good friends with several other important scientists of his time. These included James Prescott Joule, who was famous for his work on heat and energy, William Sturgeon, who invented the electromagnet, John Davies, and John Leigh.

Because of his important work, Binney was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1856. This is a great honor for a scientist. He passed away in Manchester.

See also

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