Francesco Ferrara (geologist)

Francesco Ferrara was born to parents of little means from the town of Trecastagni in Sicily, but was sent to study by the age of 11 years to Catania under professor Benedetto d'Agata. In 1778, he began study natural history at the University of Catania, and studied the eruption of Etna occurring the next year. In Catania, he studied multiple disciplines. In 1788, he befriended Lazzaro Spallanzani, who had come to study the volcano. In 1792, he entered the priesthood. In 1814, he was made professor of physics and mathematics at the University of Catania. In 1814, he was named royal intendent of the antiquities of Sicily. He then gained the appointment as professor of Natural History at the University of Palermo. King Francis I of the Two Sicilies knighted him. He also received honorary membership in a variety of medical societies. Ferrara was prolific and wrote numerous books on diverse topics.

Later in life, he took positions as professor of archeology at the University of Catania. In 1834, he wrote a biography of his brother Alfio (1777-1829) who served as a doctor in the British army. Francesco died in Catania.^[1]