Arthur William Baden Powell
Encyclopedia
Dr Arthur William Baden Powell CBE
(4 April 1901 - 1 July 1987) was a New Zealand
malacologist
, naturalist
and palaeontologist, a major influence in the study and classification of New Zealand molluscs through much of the twentieth century. He was known to his friends and family by his third name, "Baden".
Powell was born at Wellington
, New Zealand, on 4 April 1901. His schooling was in Auckland
, and he trained in printing at the Elam School of Fine Arts
. This training, and his interest in conchology
, set him on his life's work. He started writing scientific papers on mollusca
in 1921, and became one of the few experts in New Zealand shellfish.
Powell married Isabel Essie Gittos on 19 December 1928, at Devonport
in Auckland
. They had a son.
He was appointed to the Auckland War Memorial Museum
as palaeontologist and conchologist in 1929, working with some lesser-known mollusc families. He also studied New Zealand’s big land snails, the Paryphanta
, and the Placostylus
flax snails. From 1932 Powell participated in dredging expeditions on the British research ship Discovery II exploring coastal Northland and discovering large numbers of new species. Other field trips from the 1930s to 1960 took him to Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands
, the Kermadec Islands
and the Antarctica and sub-Antarctic
region, resulting in many important papers.
Powell wrote over 100 scientific papers and three books. His 500-page New Zealand Mollusca, published in 1979, was a gigantic and important undertaking, the result of 50 years of single-handed work.
Powell was a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
from 1940 and was the recipient of the Hector Memorial Medal
and Prize in 1947. He also received an honorary DSc
in 1956 from the University of New Zealand
and a CBE
in 1981.
His wife died in 1976. Two years later, he married Ida Madoline Worthy (née Hayes) at Whangarei
. Powell died on 1 July 1987 in Auckland.
Taxa named after him include:
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(4 April 1901 - 1 July 1987) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
malacologist
Malacology
Malacology is the branch of invertebrate zoology which deals with the study of the Mollusca , the second-largest phylum of animals in terms of described species after the arthropods. Mollusks include snails and slugs, clams, octopus and squid, and numerous other kinds, many of which have shells...
, naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
and palaeontologist, a major influence in the study and classification of New Zealand molluscs through much of the twentieth century. He was known to his friends and family by his third name, "Baden".
Powell was born at Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand, on 4 April 1901. His schooling was in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, and he trained in printing at the Elam School of Fine Arts
Elam School of Fine Arts
The Elam School of Fine Arts, founded in 1890 by John Edward Elam is a part of Auckland University. Students study degrees in fine art with an emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach.-History:...
. This training, and his interest in conchology
Conchology
Conchology is the scientific or amateur study of mollusc shells. Conchology is one aspect of malacology, the study of molluscs, however malacology studies molluscs as whole organisms, not just their shells. Conchology pre-dated malacology as a field of study. It includes the study of land and...
, set him on his life's work. He started writing scientific papers on mollusca
Mollusca
The Mollusca , common name molluscs or mollusksSpelled mollusks in the USA, see reasons given in Rosenberg's ; for the spelling mollusc see the reasons given by , is a large phylum of invertebrate animals. There are around 85,000 recognized extant species of molluscs. Mollusca is the largest...
in 1921, and became one of the few experts in New Zealand shellfish.
Powell married Isabel Essie Gittos on 19 December 1928, at Devonport
Devonport, New Zealand
Devonport is a harbourside suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. It is located on the North Shore, at the southern end of a peninsula that runs southeast from near Lake Pupuke in Takapuna, forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour...
in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. They had a son.
He was appointed to the Auckland War Memorial Museum
Auckland War Memorial Museum
The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history , natural history, as well as military history.The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist...
as palaeontologist and conchologist in 1929, working with some lesser-known mollusc families. He also studied New Zealand’s big land snails, the Paryphanta
Paryphanta
Paryphanta, common name kauri snails, is a genus of large predatory land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Rhytididae.-Species:Species within the genus Paryphanta include:* Paryphanta busbyi...
, and the Placostylus
Placostylus
Placostylus, or flax snails, are a genus of very large, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs in the family Placostylidae.Placostylus is the type genus of the family Placostylidae....
flax snails. From 1932 Powell participated in dredging expeditions on the British research ship Discovery II exploring coastal Northland and discovering large numbers of new species. Other field trips from the 1930s to 1960 took him to Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
, the Kermadec Islands
Kermadec Islands
The Kermadec Islands are a subtropical island arc in the South Pacific Ocean northeast of New Zealand's North Island, and a similar distance southwest of Tonga...
and the Antarctica and sub-Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
region, resulting in many important papers.
Powell wrote over 100 scientific papers and three books. His 500-page New Zealand Mollusca, published in 1979, was a gigantic and important undertaking, the result of 50 years of single-handed work.
Powell was a fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
from 1940 and was the recipient of the Hector Memorial Medal
Hector Memorial Medal
The Hector Memorial Medal is awarded annually for outstanding contribution to the advancement of the particular branch of science. It is awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand in memory of Sir James Hector...
and Prize in 1947. He also received an honorary DSc
DSC
-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
in 1956 from the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
and a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1981.
His wife died in 1976. Two years later, he married Ida Madoline Worthy (née Hayes) at Whangarei
Whangarei
Whangarei, pronounced , is the northernmost city in New Zealand and the regional capital of Northland Region. Although commonly classified as a city, it is officially part of the Whangarei District, administered by the Whangarei District Council a local body created in 1989 to administer both the...
. Powell died on 1 July 1987 in Auckland.
Taxa named after him include:
- PowelliphantaPowelliphantaPowelliphanta, common name amber snails, is a genus of large, carnivorous land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod molluscs. As a group their survival status is endangered.- Taxonomy :...
O'Connor, 1945 - Antimargarita powelli Aldea, Zelaya & Troncoso, 2009
- Falsilunatia powelliFalsilunatia powelliFalsilunatia powelli is a species of deepwater sea snail, a marine gastropod mollusc in the family Naticidae, the moon snails.-References:...
Dell, 1956 - Philine powelliPhiline powelliPhiline powelli is a species of sea snail, a marine opisthobranch gastropod mollusk in the family Philinidae, the headshield slugs.-References:...
Rudman, 1970 - Zeacolpus pagoda powelli Marwick, 1957