James Croll and 1876: an exceptional year for a ‘singularly modest man’

ABSTRACT James Croll left school at the age of 13 years, yet while a janitor in Glasgow he published landmark paper on astronomically-related climate change, claimed as ‘the most important discovery paleoclimatology’, and which brought him to attention Charles Darwin, William Thomson John Tyndall, amongst others. By 1867 was persuaded become Secretary Accountant newly established Geological Survey Scotland Edinburgh, year after appearance his keynote volume Climate time 1875, lauded with an honorary doctorate from Scotland's oldest university, Fellowship Royal Society London Honorary Membership New York Academy Sciences. Using range archival sources, this explores aspects ‘journey’ background award these major accolades. It also discusses why never became Fellow national academy, Edinburgh. In world 19th-Century science, not unusual being both autodidact humble origins, nor lacking support for endeavours. is possible that combination Croll's modesty innovative genius fostered advancement, though did hinder willingness engage vigorous argument.