JOHN WHITEHURST’S THEORY OF THE EARTH by JONATHAN POWERS

John Whitehurst of Derby is best known today as a maker of clocks and other fine instruments, which command high prices at auction. But as befits a founder member of the famous ‘Lunar Society’ he had wide ranging interests including expertise in hydraulics which led to an involvement with the regional mining industry.

This mini-monograph provides the first examination of the development of Whitehurst’s geological ideas from an incomplete early draft of 1763 (found among Benjamin Franklin’s papers), through to the second edition of the book in 1786. It examines Whitehurst’s struggle to reconcile his geological discoveries with a literal reading of the Book of Genesis, and his pioneering work in ‘subterranean geography’ (i.e. stratigraphy).

These ‘Enlightenment Mini-Monographs’ have been specially written and published for the benefit of the Derby Museum and Art Gallery, and other regional cultural charities. The author is Professor Emeritus Jonathan Powers DL DUniv, the first Academic Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Derby. These little books all contain some new and original material not to be found elsewhere.

First published by iOpening Books 2013, reprinted with revisions 2015

Reprinted Quandary Books 2017, 2020

Colour and b/w illustrations

Pages: iii, 61.

ISBN 978-0-9545779-2-6