Fleming Fjord

William Scoresby (1789-1857) was an explorer, scientist and clergyman. He went to the University of Edinburgh during the winter of 1806-07 and again in 1809; here he studied natural philosophy, chemistry, natural history, botany, meteorology, and magnetism. In 1822, he surveyed the eastern coast of Greenland where he named Fleming Fjord after John Fleming (1785-1857) of Bathgate. Fleming Fjord lies in King Christian X Land. I would guess that Scoresby and Fleming knew each other from sharing the same classes at the University of Edinburgh. In 1822, Fleming published a magnum opus called The Philosophy of Zoology, which, with other works, established him as Britain’s leading zoologist. Scoresby also named a peninsula Jameson Land after Robert Jameson (1774-1854), Professor of Natural History in the University of Edinburgh. In addition, Scoresby named Cape Stewart. I guess that this was named after Dugald Stewart (1753-1828) professor of mathematics then moral philosophy in the University of Edinburgh.

John Fleming was also a good botanist and geologist. He would be pleased to know that the Upper Triassic Fleming Fjord Formation, on the north-east coast of Jameson Land, bears his name.