Tullibody scientist linked with theory of evolution

Jamie MacDonald • Published 24 Feb 2010 10:53 Comments 1 Comment

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A portrait of Robert Dick. (picture courtesy of Caithness Horizons Collections Trust).

AN exhibition has opened celebrating the link between a Tullibody man and the scientist responsible for one of the most radical theories of all time.

Born in the village in 1811 Robert Dick went on to become one of the leading lights in the study of botany and geology.

After moving to Thurso as a young man to work as a baker, Dick began studying the flora and the fauna in the far north of Scotland and it is this work that has been recognised in the exhibition Connected Lives at Caithness Horizons.

The museum is also linking the work of Dick with that of Charles Darwin, who published his theory of evolution in Origin of the Species, and Hugh Miller, a fellow Scottish geologist.

Curator of Caithness Horizons Joanne Howdle told the Advertiser, "Some experts did not believe that some of the plants collected by Robert Dick grew so far north, but the evidence was in his collection of herbarium specimens.

"Dick discovered Northern Holy Grass beside the River Thurso. This plant was believed to be extinct in Britain, but it was eventually reintroduced to the list of British flora.

"He set out to collect all of the wild plants of Caithness. In doing so he found a number of rarities including Pyramidal bugle (Ajuga pyramidalis), Scottish primrose (Primula Scotica) and Baltic Rush (Juncus balticus).

"Robert Dick obtained English species by exchanging Caithness plants for southern species collected by many of the famous botanists of the period."

In addition to his plant work Dick is also remembered for his discoveries of fossilised fish.

Dick's interest in geology was fuelled by reading Miller's book 'Old Red Sandstone' and he subsequently sent Miller the rarest specimens of fossilised fish he had discovered.

Ms Howdle said, "The fossil fish specimens found by Robert Dick led to a reinterpretation of the Devonian rocks of northern Scotland and contributed significantly to Hugh Miller's writings on geology.

"The pressure of Robert Dick's life meant that he had no opportunity to publish his findings himself and he believed that there was little need for them. The fossil fish specimen Dickosterus is named after Robert Dick."

The curator went on to say Dick never met Darwin but knew about his work.

She added, "Robert Dick could not afford to buy Darwin's book 'On The Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection' but was probably aware of Darwin's work but only second-hand, through reviews and articles on paper.

"All three men however were working from the pure scientific base of first principles to further humanity's knowledge of themselves and the natural world. All three men changed the way that we think about the planet."

Representatives of Clackmannanshire Council and Tullibody History Group were invited to see the opening of the exhibition.

Susan Mills, Clackmannanshire Council's museum and heritage officer, and Chris Calder and Janet McGregor, from Tullibody History Group, attended the unveiling of the exhibition.

Chris said, "He was such a shy reclusive man who didn't get the acclaim he deserved when he was alive.

"He should be an inspiration to children as without a formal education he went on to achieve so much.

"Dick didn't believe anything unless it was proven to him to be the case."

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