Deluc, Jean André

Deluc, Jean André zhäN äNdrāˈ dəlükˈ [key], 1727–1817, Swiss geologist. During the first half of his life he was engaged mainly in business in Switzerland. He also made scientific excursions in the Alps on whose natural history he was an authority. When his commercial affairs failed in 1773, he emigrated to England where he became reader to Queen Charlotte. He held the doctrine of catastrophism to explain present geological formations, opposing the view that present processes have acted continuously during past ages. He also made contributions in the field of meteorology.

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