Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Morris, John (1810-1886)
MORRIS, JOHN (1810–1886), geologist, was born in 1810 at Homerton, London, and educated at private schools. He was engaged for some years as a pharmaceutical chemist at Kensington, but soon became interested in geology and other branches of science, and ultimately retired from business. His published papers speedily attracted notice, and his 'Catalogue of British Fossils,' published in 1845, a work involving much critical research, added greatly to his reputation. In 1854 he was elected to the professorship of geology at University College, London, an office which he retained till 1877, when he was appointed on retirement emeritus professor in acknowledgment of his services. He died, after an illness of some duration, on 7 Jan. 1886, and was buried at Kensal Green. One daughter survived him.
In addition to his 'Catalogue of British Fossils' (of which a second edition appeared in 1854, and a third was in preparation but was left incomplete at his death) and to a memoir on the 'Great Oolite Mollusca,' written in conjunction with John Lycett, and published by the Palæontographical Society, Morris wrote numerous papers and notes on scientific subjects, mostly geological. He was elected 'F.G.S. in 1845, and, in addition to other awards, received the Lyell medal in 1876. In 1870 he was presented with a handsome testimonial in appreciation of his services to geology. He was president of the Geologists' Association, held various lectureships and examinerships, and was an honorary member of several scientific societies. In 1878 he was admitted to the freedom of the Turners' Company, and received in 1878 the honorary degree of master of arts from the university of Cambridge.
Morris was a born teacher, for he was not only full of enthusiasm, but also united to a memory of extraordinary retentiveness a remarkable power of lucid exposition; yet he was so singularly modest that it was often difficult to induce him to address an audience other than his class. His knowledge of geology was encyclopaedic, his critical acumen great, but he disliked the labour of composition. In imparting knowledge verbally he was the most generous of men.
[Short memoir (with portrait), Geological Magazine [2] v. 481, and further notice id. [3] iii. 95. See also obituary notice, Proc. Geol. Soc. 1886, p. 44.]