Smith went deep into debt and as creditors chased him, he was unable to enjoy any of the fruits of his labor. Forced to sell off his fossil collection, Smith eventually retreated into Northern England and lived as a pariah. Before he did, he also entered into an unwise marriage with a mentally disturbed woman. Smith was also imprisoned for his debt. Throughout much of his life, Smith received little personal recognition for his work, even from the national Geological Society. The Geological Society, far from honoring Smith, thrust him out of their elitist circle. Toward the end of Smith's life, he was finally offered back some of the recognition he deserved....

In 1865, the Geological Society paid long overdue honors to William Smith: years after he was dead. Centuries after his death, geologists pay homage to William Smith as the "father of modern geology." Smith's maps shifted public perception of the creation of the universe and turned the popular religious notions of creation completely on their head. Smith's discoveries predicated those of Charles Darwin, whose theories of evolution complement Smith's and whose work was undoubtedly influenced by Smith's discoveries of the evolution of the earth.
Works Cited

Winchester, Simon. The Map that Changed the World. New York: Harper Collins,…