Read, Herbert Harold (1889–1970)

British geologist. From early in his career he was acknowledged as an authority on igneous and metamorphic rocks, especially plutonic rocks and their origin. He was largely responsible for seven Geological Survey memoirs and several textbooks, including The Granite Controversy, a classic work on the origin of granite.

Read was born in Whitstable, England. He was educated at the Royal College of Science, Imperial College. He entered the Geological Survey and mapped large areas of Scotland, before becoming professor of geology at Liverpool University in 1931. In 1939 he became professor of geology at Imperial College, where he remained until his retirement. Among his many honours were the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society, the Royal Medal of the Royal Society, and the Penrose Medal of the Geological Society of America. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1939.