William Noel Benson
Encyclopedia
William Noel Benson FRS FRGS
(26 December 1885 – 20 August 1957) was a research geologist and academic. After studying geology at the University of Sydney, Benson worked temporarily at the University of Adelaide
before returning to Sydney as a demonstrator. After winning an 1851 Exhibition Science Scholarship in 1910 he left Sydney to study at the University of Cambridge
, where he worked until 1913. He returned to Sydney in 1914 as the Macleay Fellow in Geology, leaving in 1917 to become Chair of the Geology Department at the University of Otago
, where for many years he was the only lecturer. During his lifetime he published over 100 papers and won several awards, including the Clarke Medal
and the Lyell Medal
. He died on 20 August 1957 following his retirement from academia in 1951.
to William Benson, a Quaker shipping manager, and his wife Emma Elizabeth Benson, who was also descended from another branch of the Benson family. Soon after his birth the family moved to Tasmania, where he studied at The Friends' School, Hobart
between 1897 and 1902. After scientific training at the University of Tasmania
he started studying Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Sydney
in 1905, where he was taught by Sir Edgeworth David
. His first paper, on the contact aureola
of a granitic body, was published before he even finished his degree, and after graduating in 1907 with First Class Honours he temporarily worked as a Lecturer at the University of Adelaide
. During this period he published three more papers, two on the petrology
of Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian
rocks in the Barossa Ranges
and one on the geomorphology
of the Mount Lofty Ranges
.
, where he worked with John Edward Marr
, Alfred Harker
and Thomas George Bonney
at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
. In 1913 he was granted the BA (Research) degree by Cambridge and left, spending most of the year travelling Europe with his parents and sisters. He returned to the University of Sydney in 1914 to take up the Macleay Fellowship in Geology. In 1915 he became a lecturer at the Geology Department, and in 1917 he became Chair of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Otago
, where he stayed until 1951.
Despite spending the first nine years at Otago as the only lecturer in the Department of Geology, Benson still published several papers, most notably a work on the Cenzoic petrographic
part of East Otago
. During his lifetime he published over 100 papers. In 1921 he was made President of the geology section of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, and from 1945 to 1947 was President of the Royal Society of New Zealand
. He was awarded the Lyell Fund and Lyell Medal
in 1937 and 1939 respectively by the Geological Society of London
, the Hector
and Hutton medals of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1933 and 1944, the Clarke Medal
of the Royal Society of New South Wales
in 1945 and the Mueller Medal of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1951. In 1949 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1951 an honorary member of the Mineralogical Society of London.
After retiring from the University of Otago in 1951 he continued to write papers, and at his death on 20 August 1957 was working on a revision to his paper on the Cenzoic Petrographic part of East Otago. His main influence, however, was in expanding the study of geology in Australasia.
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
(26 December 1885 – 20 August 1957) was a research geologist and academic. After studying geology at the University of Sydney, Benson worked temporarily at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
before returning to Sydney as a demonstrator. After winning an 1851 Exhibition Science Scholarship in 1910 he left Sydney to study at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he worked until 1913. He returned to Sydney in 1914 as the Macleay Fellow in Geology, leaving in 1917 to become Chair of the Geology Department at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, where for many years he was the only lecturer. During his lifetime he published over 100 papers and won several awards, including the Clarke Medal
Clarke Medal
The Clarke Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of New South Wales for distinguished work in the Natural sciences.Named in honour of the Reverend William Branwhite Clarke, one of the founders of the Society...
and the Lyell Medal
Lyell Medal
The Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
. He died on 20 August 1957 following his retirement from academia in 1951.
Early life and education
Benson was born on 26 December 1885 in AnerleyAnerley
Anerley is a district of South London, England, located in the London Borough of Bromley. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Anerley is geographically an outer lying area of London, although it is considered to have characteristics of an Inner city suburb...
to William Benson, a Quaker shipping manager, and his wife Emma Elizabeth Benson, who was also descended from another branch of the Benson family. Soon after his birth the family moved to Tasmania, where he studied at The Friends' School, Hobart
The Friends' School, Hobart
The Friends' School, Hobart is an independent, co-educational, Quaker, day and boarding school, located in North Hobart, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia....
between 1897 and 1902. After scientific training at the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
he started studying Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1905, where he was taught by Sir Edgeworth David
Edgeworth David
Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David KBE, DSO, FRS, was a Welsh Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer. A household name in his lifetime, David's most significant achievements were discovering the major Hunter Valley coalfield in New South Wales and leading the first expedition to reach the...
. His first paper, on the contact aureola
Aureola
An aureola or aureole is the radiance of luminous cloud which, in paintings of sacred personages, surrounds the whole figure...
of a granitic body, was published before he even finished his degree, and after graduating in 1907 with First Class Honours he temporarily worked as a Lecturer at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. During this period he published three more papers, two on the petrology
Petrology
Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks, and the conditions in which rocks form....
of Pre-Cambrian and Cambrian
Cambrian
The Cambrian is the first geological period of the Paleozoic Era, lasting from Mya ; it is succeeded by the Ordovician. Its subdivisions, and indeed its base, are somewhat in flux. The period was established by Adam Sedgwick, who named it after Cambria, the Latin name for Wales, where Britain's...
rocks in the Barossa Ranges
Barossa Ranges
The Barossa Ranges are located in the state of South Australia in Australia. They are a part of the southern Mount Lofty Ranges and primarily run along the eastern side of the Barossa Valley. The range was named by Colonel William Light in 1837 after the Barrosa Range in Spain, to which he found...
and one on the geomorphology
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
of the Mount Lofty Ranges
Mount Lofty Ranges
The Mount Lofty Ranges are the range of mountains just to the east of Adelaide in South Australia.-Location and description:The Mount Lofty Ranges stretch from the southernmost point of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Cape Jervis northwards for over before petering out north of Peterborough...
.
Lecturer
In 1909 he returned to the University of Sydney and became a demonstrator in the Geology Department. After winning an 1851 Exhibition Science Scholarship in 1910 he left Sydney in 1911 to work at the University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he worked with John Edward Marr
John Edward Marr
John Edward Marr FGS FRS was a British geologist. After studying at Lancaster Royal Grammar School he matriculated to St John's College, Cambridge, graduating with First Class Honours in 1878...
, Alfred Harker
Alfred Harker (petrologist)
Alfred Harker FRS was an English geologist who specialised in petrology and interpretive petrography. He worked for the Geological Survey of Scotland and conducted extensive surveying and geological studies of western Scotland and the Isle of Skye...
and Thomas George Bonney
Thomas George Bonney
Thomas George Bonney FRS was an English geologist.-Career:Bonney was the eldest son of the Reverend Thomas Bonney, master of Rugeley Grammar School...
at the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences
The Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences, opened in 1904, is the geology museum of the University of Cambridge in England. It is part of the Department of Earth Sciences and is located on the University's Downing Site in Downing Street, central Cambridge, England.The Sedgwick has a collection of more...
. In 1913 he was granted the BA (Research) degree by Cambridge and left, spending most of the year travelling Europe with his parents and sisters. He returned to the University of Sydney in 1914 to take up the Macleay Fellowship in Geology. In 1915 he became a lecturer at the Geology Department, and in 1917 he became Chair of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, where he stayed until 1951.
Despite spending the first nine years at Otago as the only lecturer in the Department of Geology, Benson still published several papers, most notably a work on the Cenzoic petrographic
Petrography
Petrography is a branch of petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a petrographer. The mineral content and the textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. Petrographic descriptions start with the field notes at the...
part of East Otago
East Otago
East Otago is the name given to that part of Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand that lies directly to the north of Dunedin. To the south, its limit is approximately the rough hill pass of the Kilmog, 25 kilometres north of Dunedin city centre, and in the north the limit is the Shag River.The...
. During his lifetime he published over 100 papers. In 1921 he was made President of the geology section of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, and from 1945 to 1947 was President 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...
. He was awarded the Lyell Fund and Lyell Medal
Lyell Medal
The Lyell Medal is a prestigious annual scientific medal given by the Geological Society of London, equal in status to the Murchison Medal, awarded on the basis of research to an Earth Scientist of exceptional quality...
in 1937 and 1939 respectively by the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
, the Hector
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 Hutton medals of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1933 and 1944, the Clarke Medal
Clarke Medal
The Clarke Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of New South Wales for distinguished work in the Natural sciences.Named in honour of the Reverend William Branwhite Clarke, one of the founders of the Society...
of the Royal Society of New South Wales
Royal Society of New South Wales
The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
in 1945 and the Mueller Medal of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science in 1951. In 1949 he became a Fellow of the Royal Society, and in 1951 an honorary member of the Mineralogical Society of London.
After retiring from the University of Otago in 1951 he continued to write papers, and at his death on 20 August 1957 was working on a revision to his paper on the Cenzoic Petrographic part of East Otago. His main influence, however, was in expanding the study of geology in Australasia.