John Jeremiah Bigsby

John Jeremiah Bigsby
Born	14 August 1792 Nottingham
Died	10 February 1881 Portman Square, London
Nationality	English
Fields	Geology
Alma mater	Edinburgh University
Known for	Bigsby Medal
Notable awards	Murchison Medal (1874)

John Jeremiah Bigsby (14 August 1792 – 10 February 1881), M.D., F.R.S, F.G.S., F.R.G.S., was an English physician who became known for his work on geology, an interest developed while on military service in Lower and Upper Canada, 1818-1826. He was a member of the American Philosophical Society. Before moving to London, he was Alderman and Mayor of Newark-upon-Trent, 1827-1830. In 1850, he published a lively book recounting his life and travels in British North America, The Shoe and Canoe. In 1868, he published his most important scientific work, Thesaurus Siluricus, being a list of all the fossils which occur in the Silurian formation across the world. He contributed about twenty seven papers to various scientific societies in London. He published Thesaurus Devonico-Carboniferus but died shortly before completing Thesaurus Permianus. In 1874, he was awarded the Murchison Medal. In 1876, he endowed the Bigsby Medal.

Born 1792 at Nottingham, he was the eldest son of John Bigsby (1760-1844) M.D., F.R.C.P., of Clareborough Cottage, East Retford, Nottinghamshire, and Mary (d.1821), only daughter of John Chamberlin (d.1815), J.P., of Red Hill, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire. His brother, Thomas, lived at Retford and married a daughter of Colonel John Kirke (1777-1826), J.P., of Markham Hall and Retford. His second brother, Charles, graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, and became a clergyman. Bigsby Road in Retford is named for his family.

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