William Johnson Sollas, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

William Johnson Sollas

British scientist

Date of Birth: 30-May-1849

Place of Birth: Birmingham, England, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 20-Oct-1936

Profession: geologist, paleontologist, anthropologist

Nationality: United Kingdom

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Prof William Johnson Sollas PGS FRS FRSE LLD (30 May 1849 – 20 October 1936) was a British geologist and anthropologist.
After studying at the City of London School, the Royal College of Chemistry and the Royal School of Mines he matriculated to St.
John's College, Cambridge, where he was awarded First Class Honours in geology.
After some time spent as a University Extension lecturer he became Lecturer in Geology and Zoology at University College, Bristol in 1879, where he stayed until he was offered the post of Professor of Geology at Trinity College, Dublin.
In 1897 he was offered the post of Professor of Geology at the University of Oxford, which he accepted. Considered "one of the last true geological polymaths", Sollas worked in a number of areas including the study of sponges, brachiopods and petrological research, and during his lifetime published 180 papers and wrote three books.
His biggest contribution at Oxford was in expanding the University geology department, hiring new Demonstrators and Lecturers and expanding the facilities available to students.
Described as "eccentric" in his final years, he left much of the running of the Department to J.A.
Douglas while he concentrated on research, finally dying in office on 20 October 1936.