“ALL THAT GLITTERS…:” The Scientific and Financial Ambitions of Robert Bell at the Geological Survey of Canada

• Published in: Geoscience Canada
• Main Author: Brookes, Ian A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Geological Association of Canada 2016
• Subjects: Canada; Newfoundland; Terre-Neuve
• Online Access: https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/GC/article/view/21505

In Canada, the 19th-century development of sciences with a geographical component was marked by individuals whose contributions were remarkable for their details, their geographical coverage, the originality and longevity of their ideas. Collectively, these individuals could be called the 'inventors of Canada.' Among them was Robert Bell. Early in his career at the Geological Survey of Canada and during an interval of part-time service while he taught at Queen’s University (1864–68), Kingston, Ontario, Robert Bell (1841–1917) involved himself in several commercial schemes that he hoped would lead to the development of mineral occurrences in the British colony of Newfoundland (various minerals), Canada East and West (petroleum), and Nova Scotia (gold), developments that he hoped would also raise his financial as well as his scientific stature. Here, the circumstances of these ventures and their outcomes and his unencumbered achievements in later life are reviewed.RÉSUMÉAu Canada, au 19e siècle, le développement des sciences comprenant un volet géographique a été marqué par des individus dont les contributions ont été remarquables par leurs détails, leur couverture géographique, leur originalité, et la longévité de leurs idées. Collectivement, ces personnes pourraient être appelées les «inventeurs du Canada». Parmi elles se trouvait Robert Bell. Tout au début de sa carrière à la Commission Géologique du Canada, et pendant son service à temps partiel alors qu’il enseignait à l’université Queen’s à Kingston, Ontario (1864–1868), Robert Bell (1841–1917) s’est impliqué personnellement dans plusieurs programmes commerciaux qu’il espérait mener au développement des richesses minérales de la colonie britannique de Terre-Neuve (divers minéraux), du Canada-Est et Canada-Ouest (pétrole), et de la Nouvelle-Ecosse (or). Il espérait que ces développements augmenteraient son statut financier ainsi que scientifique. Dans cet article, la situation de ces entreprises et leurs résultats, et ses accomplissements scientifiques ...