Sedgwick, Adam

Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873) was born in Dent, Yorkshire, on 22 March 1785, and educated at Sedbergh School and Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1808. He gained a Fellowship in 1810, was ordained in 1816, and was elected to the Woodwardian Professorship of Geology at Cambridge in 1818. Over the next fifty years he lectured regularly and did much to promote the study of natural science in the university, and was a founder of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. He often spent his vacations carrying out fieldwork in Great Britain, and helped to increase the university's geological collections. He published many papers, and was active in the Geological Society, Royal Society and British Association. He was also involved in much university business and in Church affairs, becoming a canon of Norwich Cathedral in 1834. He died on 27 January 1873.

From the guide to the Adam Sedgwick: Letters and Papers, 1818-1916, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

Epithet: Reverend FRS

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001240.0x000166

Epithet: geologist, d 1873

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000758.0x000110

Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873) was born in Dent, Yorkshire, on 22 March 1785, and educated at Sedbergh School and Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A., 1808), where he became a fellow in 1810. He was ordained in 1816, and was elected to the Woodwardian professorship of geology at Cambridge in 1818. Over the next fifty years Sedgwick lectured regularly and did much to promote the study of natural science in the university. He often spent his vacations carrying out fieldwork in Great Britain, and helped to increase the university's geological collections. He published many papers, and was active in the Geological Society, Royal Society and British Association. He also helped to found the Cambridge Philosophical Society. Sedgwick was involved in much university business and in Church affairs, becoming a canon of Norwich Cathedral in 1834. He died on 27 January 1873.

From the guide to the Adam Sedgwick: Letters and Notes, c. 1864-1891, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

Adam Sedgwick (1785-1873) was born in Dent, Yorkshire, on 22 March 1785. He attended Sedbergh School, and entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1804 (B.A, 1808). He became a Fellow in 1810, and was ordained in 1816. In 1818 he was elected to the Woodwardian Professorship of Geology at Cambridge. Over the next fifty years he lectured regularly and promoted the study of natural science in the university. He spent many of his vacations carrying out fieldwork in Great Britain, and made contributions to the university's geological collections. Sedgwick was the founder of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, and was active in the Geological Society, Royal Society and British Association. He was involved in university business and in Church affairs, becoming a canon of Norwich Cathedral in 1834. He died in his rooms at Trinity College on 27 January 1873.

William Ainger (1785-1840) was born at Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire, and educated at Sedbergh School. He entered St John's College, Cambridge, in 1803 (B.A., 1807; M.A., 1810), and subsequently became a Fellow. He was ordained deacon in 1808, and priest in 1809, and was Vicar of Sunninghill, Berkshire, 1817-1829, and Rector of Northenden, Cheshire, 1829-1840. He was made canon of Chester in 1827. Ainger was principal of St Bees Theological College, Cumberland, 1816-1840. He died at St Bees on 20 October 1840. Ainger knew Adam Sedgwick at school and college, and their families were friends. Sedgwick was with Ainger when he died.

From the guide to the Adam Sedgwick: Correspondence with William Ainger, 1807-1840, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)