George Thurland Prior

George Thurland Prior (1862-1936) was one of the first scientists to classify meteorites based on their chemical composition.

He worked at the Museum from 1887 until his retirement in 1927 - initially in the laboratories, then as Keeper of Mineralogy from 1909.

While in the laboratory, he helped to describe many new minerals from around the world, but when he became Keeper of Mineralogy, he turned his attention to meteorites.

Prior established a classification of meteorites according to their iron and nickel content, and in 1923 published a catalogue of all of the meteorites then known to science. His laws are still used today as a basis for classifying meteorites.

Find out more about how the solar system was born >
Explore other key objects related to the origins of the solar system >