The following discussion is an archived debate of the proposed deletion of the article below. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was speedy keep. Multiple editors have confirmed that this is not a hoax. (non-admin closure) Andrew D. (talk) 13:29, 15 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

William Smellie (geologist)[edit]

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There are other William Smellies, but this article seems slightly suspicious with only a couple indistinct references. I suspect this article possibly was hoaxed because of the humorous surname. ~Sıgehelmus♗_(Tøk) 06:07, 15 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Comment: William R Smellie's "Igneous Rocks of Bute" can be seen to be published and subsequently cited by others: [1]. AllyD (talk) 10:03, 15 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Speedy keep: The hoax rationale for the nomination is negated by the published Royal Society of Edinburgh reference which confirms the subject's fellowship and curatorial appointment. In addition to the publication noted in my earlier comment (on which see also this), others can be found such as this review in the Geological Magazine. There are also listings such as this (which also shows the relative frequency of the name - off topic, but I think someone I knew as "Mrs Smeel" actually had that unfortunate surname.) AllyD (talk) 10:19, 15 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Speedy Keep Serious failure of WP:BEFORE: The Royal Society of Edinburgh is hardly an "indistinct reference" (whatever that means), and clearly shows William Robert Smellie as a member. Additionally, there are details of his role as curator in The Life and Work of Professor J.W. Gregory FRS (1864-1932), Geologist [2], and there's an obituary in the Proceedings of the Geological Society of Glasgow [3]. RebeccaGreen (talk) 12:23, 15 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as the article's talk page or in a deletion review). No further edits should be made to this page.