skip to main page content :: Town & Regional Planning Home > Glossary Home > G >
Geddes, Patrick (1854-1932)
- trained as a biologist, Geddes was Professor of Botany at Dundee from 1889-1919 after
which he became Professor of Sociology at Bombay University 1920-1923. From 1904 onwards, Geddes
began to become actively involved in town planning, a founder member of the RTPI, publication of
City Development in 1904 followed by Cities in Evolution in 1915 earned him an international
reputation. His approach to planning owed much to his early biological training. His doctrine
of survey, analysis and plan is still an important legacy, as is his pioneering work in the Old
Town of Edinburgh which he began as early as 1884 (motivated in part by civic pride and the rest
through his love of property speculation), and which he accurately referred to as "conservative surgery".