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Alfred Tylor (26 Jan 1824 - 31 Dec 1884) English geologist and businessman who specialized in hydraulic geology and geomorphology, studying both prehistoric and contemporary riverine systems. He wrote a book, On Changes of Sea Level (1853), and presented 17 papers to the Royal Society, mostly on aspects of geology. His profession was as a brassfounder, following on from the family business. Short biography of Alfred Tylor >>

ALFRED TYLOR, F.G.S.

Born, 1823. Died, 1884.

[p.142] Alfred Tylor, F.G.S., of Shepley House, Carsbalton, who died on December 31st last, will be remembered as a promoter of technical education at a time when its vital importance was little recognized, and the English manufacturing mind was generally set against it. He was intimately associated with Dr. von Steinbeis, whose energy in this direction did so much to give to the little kingdom of Wurtemburg its industrial prominence in Germany, Mr. Tylor’s work, “Education and Manufactures,” arising out of his Jury-report [p.143] on Metal-work at the Exhibition of 1862, was translated into German, and also appeared in Swedish. Mr. Tylor sat for some years on the Council of the Geological Society. His Geological papers relate principally to the flow of rivers as connected with the erosion of valleys and the deposit of gravel-beds; they contain much systematised information, for instance, as to the mechanical action of the Mississippi and the Ganges. It is well known that his study of river-valleys and drift-gravels led him to the hypothesis of a Post-Glacial time of enormous rainfall which he called the “Pluvial Period.” The term, though not generally acknowledged, has been found of considerable use, to judge from its not unfrequent appearance in many Geological works.

Mr. Tylor’s paper “On Changes of the Sea-level and on Denudation” (1853), contains a method of computing the present rate of denudation of the land from the present pluvial and marine action by estimate of the material now being carried out to sea by rivers and removed from cliffs by the sea, and the author contends that there were larger rivers, more rainfall, and greater denudation in former periods.

In his paper “On the Upper and Lower Valley-Gravels of France and England” (1866), the author enunciated the view that what were termed “ High” and “Low Valley-Gravels,” were of one age, and close to the Historical Period.

His paper in 1868 “On the Amiens Gravel” makes the first definite mention of the “Pluvial Period.”

In Mr. Tylor’s paper “On the Quaternary Gravels of England,” (1869), he gives a calculation to show that the volume of the floodwaters of the Gravel-Period must have been 125 times greater than that at present in the same valleys, and the volume of the rivers 20 times as large as at present.

In his paper “On the Formation of Deltas,” etc. (1869), Mr. Tylor suggests a rainfall of 300 inches in the Gravel-Period. He also treats of the law of the Parabolic Curve of River-Valleys, and the lowering of the sea-level 600 feet in the Glacial Period, etc.

In his later years he devoted much time to the consideration of Coloration in Plants and Animals in relation to their structure, as well as to the protective advantages derived by the possession of such colour-markings.

In future years Mr. Tylor will be chiefly remembered not only in the Society of Friends, but in a far wider circle, as one who had the cause of education most earnestly at heart, and still more for the generous and friendly band which he was at all times ready to extend to help his fellow-men in any way within his power.

The following is a List of his Geological Papers :—

Nature bears long with those who wrong her. She is patient under abuse. But when abuse has gone too far, when the time of reckoning finally comes, she is equally slow to be appeased and to turn away her wrath. (1882) -- Nathaniel Egleston, who was writing then about deforestation, but speaks equally well about the danger of climate change today.

Carl Sagan: In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion. (1987) ...(more by Sagan)

Albert Einstein: I used to wonder how it comes about that the electron is negative. Negative-positive—these are perfectly symmetric in physics. There is no reason whatever to prefer one to the other. Then why is the electron negative? I thought about this for a long time and at last all I could think was “It won the fight!” ...(more by Einstein)

Richard Feynman: It is the facts that matter, not the proofs. Physics can progress without the proofs, but we can't go on without the facts ... if the facts are right, then the proofs are a matter of playing around with the algebra correctly. ...(more by Feynman)

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Quotations about: • Atomic  Bomb • Biology • Chemistry • Deforestation • Engineering • Anatomy • Astronomy • Bacteria • Biochemistry • Botany • Conservation • Dinosaur • Environment • Fractal • Genetics • Geology • History of Science • Invention • Jupiter • Knowledge • Love • Mathematics • Measurement • Medicine • Natural Resource • Organic Chemistry • Physics • Physician • Quantum Theory • Research • Science and Art • Teacher • Technology • Universe • Volcano • Virus • Wind Power • Women Scientists • X-Rays • Youth • Zoology  ... (more topics)