James Hutton

James Hutton, an 18th-century Scottish geologist, is often referred to as the "Father of Modern Geology." He introduced the concept of uniformitarianism, which suggests that the Earth's features are shaped by processes occurring over vast periods, like erosion, sedimentation, and volcanic activity, much like those we observe today. Hutton's work emphasized that the Earth is much older than previously thought and that its landscape changes gradually rather than through sudden events. His ideas laid the foundation for understanding geological time and the ongoing processes that shape our planet.