David Page (geologist)

David Page (1814–1879) was a Scottish geologist and science textbook and popularising writer.

Page was born on 24 August 1814 at Lochgelly, Fifeshire, where his father was a mason and builder. After the parochial school, he was sent, at age 14, to the University of St Andrews, to be educated for the ministry; but when his university course was over he supported himself by lecturing and journalism, acting for a time as editor of a Fifeshire newspaper.

In 1843 Page became scientific editor to W. & R. Chambers, publishers in Edinburgh, where he wrote much himself. He was supposed to have assisted Robert Chambers in writing the Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation. He was recruited to Chambers in 1843, while Vestiges, published 1844, was being written. His role is said, in fact, to have been to correct mistakes in science, in the first few editions. Later Page was in dispute with Chambers over his conditions of employment, wishing to be made a partner. He left the firm on bad terms with management, and revealed the authorship of Robert Chambers in 1854, after one of his lectures: up to this point it had been a well-guarded secret.

Page was elected Fellow of the Geological Society in 1853, was president of the Geological Society of Edinburgh in 1863 and 1865, and was a member of other societies. In 1867 the university of St. Andrews honoured him with the degree of LL.D.

In July 1871 he was appointed professor of geology in the Durham University College of Physical Science, based at Newcastle upon Tyne. His health was failing, and he died at Newcastle on 9 March 1879, leaving a widow, two sons, and one daughter.

Page contributed some fourteen papers to scientific periodicals, among them those of the Geological and the Physical Society of Edinburgh and the British Association. Known as a lecturer, he also authored numerous textbooks on geological subjects. They were at least 12 in number, and included:

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