James Hutton: The Genius of Time

by Ray Perman

Among the giants of the Scottish Enlightenment, the name of James Hutton is overlooked. Yet his Theory of the Earth revolutionised the way we think about how our planet was formed and laid the foundation for the science of geology. He was in his time a doctor, a farmer, a businessman, a chemist yet he describe d himself as a philosopher – a seeker after truth.

A friend of James Watt and of Adam Smith, he was a polymath, publishing papers on subjects as diverse as why it rains and a theory of language. He shunned status and official position, refused to give up his strong Scots accent and vulgar speech, loved jokes and could start a party in an empty room.

Yet much of his story remains a mystery. His papers, library and mineral collection all vanished after his death and only a handful of letters survive. He seemed to be a lifelong bachelor, yet had a secret son whom he supported throughout his life.

This book uses new sources and original documents to bring Hutton the man to life and places him firmly among the geniuses of his time.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2022

About the author

Ray Perman, a writer and journalist for 30 years, was chair of the James Hutton Institute and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, of which Hutton was a founder member. His previous books include The Rise and Fall of the City of MoneyThe Man Who Gave Away His Island.

Reviews

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

'We find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end.'

Not much is known about the life of James Hutton, now revered as the 'father of modern geology'. As such, this biography attempts to place him in the context of his time in the 18th century, at the heart of Edinburgh and the Scottish Enlightenment. His friends and contemporaries are well-known by comparison - Adam Smith, James Watt, David Hume - yet Hutton's philosophy and theories - most notably his 'Theory of the Earth' (1788) is no less of an achievement. His theories were so advanced, it took almost 100 years after his death for his significance to be fully recognised. During his life, his work was given very little notice outside his immediate circle of debating academics. Indeed, the ludicrous assertion (to modern thought) that the Earthy was older than 6,000 years, made Hutton the object of strong objection from the religious thinkers in his lifetime.

Well-researched and readable, and not dwelling too much on the geology that would be impenetrable for the non-geologist (like myself), this book provides a fabulous insight into the life and times of the man, who lived through Jacobite revolutions and Bonnie Prince Charlie and the greatest years of Scottish power and influence. A compelling read.

[John Boyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent insight into the somewhat opaque life of a key figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. Despite a dearth of direct documentary evidence and perhaps some slightly overdone speculation in the absence of evidence this is still a fine and illuminating read. Highly recommended.