Dr Robert Meldrum Craig FRSE FGS (13 July 1882 – 28 March 1956) was a prominent Scottish geologist and academic author. He left a large collection of fossils now housed in the collection of the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

Life

He was born on 13 July 1882 in

Ardentinny Ardentinny ( gd, Àird an t-Sionnaich or Àird an Teine) is a small village on the western shore of Loch Long, north of Dunoon on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. Nearby is Cruach a Chaise (Cheese Hill), while on the ...

in Argyllshire in northern

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

, the son of Rev Robert Craig, the local minister. His younger brother John Douglas Craig grew to fame as a classicist. He was schooled at the local parish school and then attended Madras College in the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

. James Manson Craig, Professor of English at the University of St Andrews was also his brother. Several other brothers grew to fame in the military: Brigade Major Henry David Cook Craig MC; Lt Falconer Gray Craig MC; Cpt Archibald Douglas Craig. Joseph Murison Craig became a surgeon, and his sister Constance Craig became a missionary in China. In 1909 he began lecturing in Geology at Dundee, then a branch of the University of St Andrews, moving to St Andrews in 1912. In the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

he served first in the

Durham Light Infantry The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...

then in the 5th South Staffordshire Regiment (rising to the rank of Captain). From 1918 to 1921 he acted as the Government Geologist to

Nyasaland Nyasaland () was a British protectorate located in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasala ...

in Africa. He then received a professorship at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

and remained there from 1921 until retiral, lecturing in economic geology. In 1931 he gained a DSc, on the geology of Harris and Lewis, from the University. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1925. His proposers were

Thomas James Jehu Thomas John Jehu (19 February 1871 – 18 July 1943) was a British physician and geologist. The Jehu-Campbell Fossil Collection at the University of Edinburgh was donated by Jehu in combination with Robert Campbell and is now the main component ...

John Horne John Horne PRSE FRS FRSE FEGS LLD (1 January 1848 – 30 May 1928) was a Scottish geologist. He served as President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1915 to 1919. Life Horne was born on 1 January 1848, in Campsie, Stirlingshire, the ...

Ben Peach Benjamin Neeve Peach (6 September 1842 – 29 January 1926) was a British geologist. Life Peach was born at Gorran Haven in Cornwall on 6 September 1842 to Jemima Mabson and Charles William Peach, an amateur British naturalist and geologist ...

, and Robert Campbell. He won the Society’s Keith Medal for 1925-27. He served as a President of the Edinburgh Geological Society 1934-6 and Trustee from 1939-48. He died on 28 March 1956.

Publications

See *''Structural and Field Geology'' *''Outline of the Geology of Prince Charles Foreland'' *''Geology and Scenery of the Hebrides'' *''Geology of the Outer Hebrides: Barra'' (co-written with

)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Craig, Robert Meldrum 1882 births 1956 deaths Scottish geologists Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh