James Hutton who was most known as the founder of modern geology, was born on June 3, 1726, in Edinburgh, Scotland. James was one of five children of William Hutton, a merchant who was Edinburgh City Treasurer, but died in 1729 when James was still young. James’ mother, Sarah Balfour, insisted James went to the High School of Edinburgh as a “student of humanity.” James was a trainee to the lawyer George Chalmers when he was 17, but was more interested in chemical experiments than legal work. When he turned 18, he became a physicians assistant, and attended lectures in medicine at the University of Edinburgh. A few years pass and he started going to the University of Paris to continue his studies.

In 1747, James had a son. Even though he gave his child financial assistance, he still had little to do with the boy who eventually went on to be a post-office clerk in London.