Gordon Y. Craig

Gordon Younger Craig, FRSE, FGS (January 17, 1925 – October 3, 2014) was a Scottish geologist, author, historian, and a professor at the University of Edinburgh.

Early life He was born on 17 of January in Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, the only son of James and Emily Maud Craig. He attended Hillhead High School and Bearsden Academy, from where he progressed to Glasgow University to study Geology and where he was active in the university's Geological Society. His studies were interrupted by World War II, during which he served naval service. He graduated in 1946 with first class honours degree and was a demonstrator in the Glasgow department for the following year.

Career Upon recommendation by the renowned T. Neville George, in 1947 he was appointed Lecturer in Palaeontology at Edinburgh University, aged 22, and with the generous yearly salary of £500. He was involved in the International Commission on the History of Geological Sciences (INHIGEO) and became its president between 1984 and 1989, organizing international conferences throughout the whole world and promoting the role of Edinburgh as home to James Hutton, "father of modern Geology". A geological miscellany is an entertainment: a book of anecdotes, epigrams, documents, and cartoons, all illustrating (although not all intentionally) the humorous side of the profession. Ecology and palaeoecology of marine environments James Hutton: present and future James Hutton's Theory of the earth: the lost drawings James Hutton & Joseph Black: biographies The Geology of the Lothians and south east Scotland: an excursion guide. This is a guide for those wanting to explore the geology of the Southern Uplands. It suggests several excursions and provides background information. The 1785 abstract of James Hutton's theory of the earth This restless earth

Awards He was a Fellow of the Geological Society. In 1964, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for the discipline Earth Sciences and Chemistry. In 1990, he received the Mary C Rabbit History of Geology award by the Geological Society of America 's History of Geology Division. This award is presented yearly to an individual for exceptional scholarly contributions of fundamental importance to our understanding of the geological sciences.

Legacy He is remembered as a man who gave to all his most precious of gifts, the gift of time. The School of Geosciences of the University of Edinburgh has planned to honour his memory by awarding a Gordon Craig Memorial Scholarship to a student of Geology. This would be a fitting tribute to someone who spent so much time and energy helping the next generation to succeed.