Proyecto subvencionado por el PAP de la OAPEE

2. Joseph Townsend (4th
April,1739) was a British
physicist, geologist and
reverend. Son of a wealthy
merchant, he was educated
at Cambridge, studied
medicine in Strasbourg and
was ordained an Anglican
reverend in 1763.

3. He toured Europe from 1769
and visited Spain between
1786-1787, although the
reason for his visit to our
country is not clear, we
have evidence that he left
Spain with some regret
because of the admiration
he had for the people of
this country.

5. Two and a quarter
centuries ago he visited
Asturias and stayed here
for two months. At that
time people hadn’t a lot
of knowledge about
Astur geology.

6. Stresses Casal's
work (1762) and
Count of Toreno
(1785) focused
on describing
some minerals,
rocks, gems and
natural
substances in
the region.
There was no
coal mining or
terrain maps.

7. He recognizes various types
of rocks and even confirms
that they are deformed,
detailing the presence of
various substances
(gypsum, jet, amber).
On the other hand…

8. …he described for the first time
the existence of various fossils,
especially the description of
reef fauna and he reflects
genetic aspects of geological
objects that he describes.
He is considered a pioneer
in several geological
peculiarities of Asturias.