He studied science at the University of Glasgow graduating with an MA in 1928, a BSc in 1932 and, specialising in geology at postgraduate level, gained a doctorate (PhD) in 1935.

[4] He began his academic career as assistant lecturer in 1936 and during the same year married Rose Bannatyne Mackinlay with whom he fathered a son they named Patrick John Coll Lamont.

Archie retired from teaching at the age of 38[5] in order to live alone at Jess cottage in the village of Carlops, situated in the Pentland Hills, 5.5 miles (8.9 km) SW of Penicuik, Midlothian.

For instance, Wallacia Lamont 1978,[6] a monophyletic group of late Llandovery trilobite, was named for the famed Scottish knight, Sir William Wallace.

[7] Lamont's discoveries have been criticized for creating a "taxonomic mess", by describing genera based on "the basis of miserable scraps".