The Englishman who concluded that sedimentary layers could be identified by fossil content was William Smith. He was a geologist and engineer who lived from 1769 to 1839. Smith is often referred to as the "Father of English Geology" because of his pioneering work in the field of stratigraphy, which is the study of rock layers and layering.
Smith observed that certain fossils were found only in specific layers of rock and that these layers could be identified by the presence of these fossils. He used this principle to create the first geological map of England, which was published in 1815. This map showed the different layers of rock and the fossils found in each layer, providing valuable information about the history and formation of the earth.
~~~Harsha~~~