‘We find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end’ — James Hutton, The Theory of the EarthWhich great naturalist will we celebrate in 2026? June 3 next will be the 300th anniversary of the birth of James Hutton, ‘the father of modern geology’. Portrait of James Hutton by Henry Raeburn. Examining the landscapes of his native Scotland, Hutton concluded that rock formations could not be static; they changed slowly over immense periods of time. In the hands of Lamarck Russel-Wallace and Darwin, evolution would prove to be one of the most revolutionary notions of modern times.

Source: Irish Examiner December 25, 2025 12:14 UTC