Alexander Buchan

Alexander Buchan FRS FRSE (11 April 1829 – 13 May 1907) was a Scottish meteorologist, oceanographer and botanist and is credited with establishing the weather map as the basis of modern weather forecasting. He also proposed the theory of Buchan Spells. Life Buchan was born in Kinnesswood on the north side of Loch Leven, the son of Alexander Buchan, a weaver, and Margaret Day Hill. He was educated at the Free Church College in Edinburgh and at Edinburgh University. He was Secretary of the Scottish Meteorological Society for 47 years. From 1860 until his death he was the editor of the Journal of the Scottish Meteorological Society and he was also a member of the Council of the Meteorological Office as well as the curator of the library of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was instrumental in establishing the Ben Nevis observatory. Buchan prepared meteorological and oceanographic reports for the Challenger Expedition. In 1870 he was elected President of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh. He was then living at 72 Northumberland Street in Edinburgh's Second New Town.