Sydney Barber Josiah Skertchly

Sydney Barber Josiah Skertchly (14 December 1850 – 2 February 1926) was an English and later Australian botanist and geologist.

He was educated at King Edward's School, Ashby-de-la-Zouch where he won the Queen's gold medal for science.

He studied geology at the Royal School of Mines (later Imperial College, London) under Sir Ralph Tate and Thomas H.

[4] He travelled to California, Borneo, and China, studying and writing on geology and wider scientific subjects.

He pioneered the first ever series of science textbooks written by scientists rather than school teachers, and a system for showing relief on maps.

A daughter, Ruby, who married Edward James Cooper of 'Birribon', Carrara near Nerang, Queensland in Australia and two sons, Harold Brandon and Ethelbert Forbes.

Skertchly in 1871
Illustration from Skertchly's On the manufacture of Gun-Flints , 1879