Edward Daniel Clarke: The First Professor of Mineralogy at Cambridge

In 1808, Edward Daniel Clarke was appointed the first professor of mineralogy at Cambridge. This seems peculiar, since Clarke was not a mineralogist, but an antiquarian and world traveller. Nevertheless, the appointment was not unreasonable. Clarke had long been an enthusiastic, almost obsessive collector of minerals, travelling extensively through Scandinavia, Russia, and the ancient world, acquiring minerals, flora, and especially antiquities, and the university was greatly in his debt for the vast collections he gave it. Cambridge was not to regret its choice, for his ability at teaching is reflected in the quality of his students.