The Economic Times

In 1787, William Smith began mapping England as a surveyors assistant; 28 years later, his travels produced the first geological map of an entire country, only for him to land in debtors prison

In 1787, William Smith began mapping England as a surveyors assistant. Twenty-eight years later, his endless travels produced the worlds first nationwide geological map. His pioneering work completely revolutionized how scientists understand earth strata and geological science. Yet despite this historic achievement, severe financial hardship soon crushed him. Just four years after publishing his masterwork, the father of English geology landed inside a London debtors' prison.