Charles Middlemiss (1859-1945).

The photo on the left was taken when he joined the Geological Survey of India in 1882 (Courtesy of the Director Geological Survey of India), and the one on the right when he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society (From a photograph provided by his daughter for Middlemiss's extended obituary written by Fermor).

Middlemiss was the longest serving geologist in India, serving first in the Himalaya, then in central India, and finally, after retiring from the Geological Survey of India, he served as the Director for Mineral Exploration in Kashmir. He is best known in the world of seismology from his accounts of the Kangra 1905 earthquake. Click here for Fermor's extended biography of Middlemiss plus links.

His first few weeks in India was spent with R. D. Oldham in the Himalaya, and it appears quite likely that he introduced Oldham to to the writings of Osmond Fisher, who Middlemiss would have met in Cambridge. He was one year younger than Oldham who he outlived by 9 years. His last published document was his obituary of Oldham who died in 1936.

Middlemiss had five sons and one daughter. Two sons died young in India, two were killed in the last war, one in Gallipoli and one in France. He was survived by a daughter (Mrs Forward), and a son, Hugh Middlemiss who was a musician and produced several notable musical recordings etc.

MIDDLEMISS, Rifleman, GUY, 2022. Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps. Killed in action Gallipoli 6th May 1915. Age 23. Born at Rawalpindi, India. Son of C. S. Middlemiss, C.I.E., F.R.S., and Mrs. Middlemiss, of Srinagar, Kashmir, India. Educated at St. John's School, Leatherhead, Surrey, England. I. B. 36.

MIDDLEMISS, G Private. Possibly Rifleman 302119. London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade). 5th Bn. Died 18/06/1917 aged 23. Son of Mr C. S. Middlemiss, C.I.E., F.R.S., and Mrs M.F. Middlemiss (nee Wheeler), of ‘Aviemore’, Crowborough, Sussex. Buried at Tank Cemetery, Guemappe, France, A 35.