William Rowan Browne
Encyclopedia
William Rowan Browne was an Australia
n geologist, author of The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia.
, County Londonderry
, Ireland
, both parents were school teachers. He was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and entered Trinity College, Dublin
in 1903, but soon had to withdraw due to tuberculosis
. On advice he took a long sea voyage and travelled to Australia in 1904.
. He earned a D.Sc.
with university medal in 1922 for his work in igneous
and metamorphic
petrology
. In 1923 he was promoted to assistant professor.
Browne completed The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia, started by Professor Edgeworth David. David informed Browne of this in March 1934, David died 28 August 1934. The New South Wales government commissioned Browne to publish the work, David's manuscript was only a bundle of rough notes, some chapters were practically empty. Geology was finally printed in 1950.
The Sydney Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board invited Browne to investigate a site for a storage reservoir on the Warragamba River
. Browne found a better site and continued as geological adviser until 1960 when the Warragamba Dam
was completed.
by the Royal Society of New South Wales
(of which was president 1932–33) in 1942. Browne was a founder of the Geographical Society of New South Wales in 1927, president 1929-30 and 1948-49.
He was also a founder, in 1952, of the Geological Society of Australia
of which he was president 1955-56; the society awards the W. R. Browne medal as its highest honour.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n geologist, author of The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Early life
Browne was born in LisleaLislea
Lislea is a small village and townland near Slieve Gullion in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the parish of Killevy, barony of Orior Upper and the Newry and Mourne District Council area. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 84 people....
, County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, both parents were school teachers. He was educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and entered Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1903, but soon had to withdraw due to tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. On advice he took a long sea voyage and travelled to Australia in 1904.
Career
Browne tutored before enrolling at the University of SydneyUniversity 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...
. He earned a D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
with university medal in 1922 for his work in igneous
Igneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
and metamorphic
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
petrology
Petrology
Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks, and the conditions in which rocks form....
. In 1923 he was promoted to assistant professor.
Browne completed The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia, started by Professor Edgeworth David. David informed Browne of this in March 1934, David died 28 August 1934. The New South Wales government commissioned Browne to publish the work, David's manuscript was only a bundle of rough notes, some chapters were practically empty. Geology was finally printed in 1950.
The Sydney Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board invited Browne to investigate a site for a storage reservoir on the Warragamba River
Warragamba River
The Warragamba River is a tributary of the Nepean River, and hence of the Hawkesbury River, in New South Wales, Australia. It is best known for being the location of the Warragamba Dam and Lake Burragorang, which form a major part of the water supply to the Sydney region.Prior to the creation of...
. Browne found a better site and continued as geological adviser until 1960 when the Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam
Warragamba Dam is the primary water source for the Australian city of Sydney. It is approximately to the west of Sydney on the Warragamba River, a tributary of the Hawkesbury River, and impounds Lake Burragorang.- Overview :...
was completed.
Honours and legacy
Browne was awarded the Clarke MedalClarke 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...
by 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...
(of which was president 1932–33) in 1942. Browne was a founder of the Geographical Society of New South Wales in 1927, president 1929-30 and 1948-49.
He was also a founder, in 1952, of the Geological Society of Australia
Geological Society of Australia
The Geological Society of Australia was established as a non-profit organisation in 1952 to promote, advance and support earth sciences in Australia...
of which he was president 1955-56; the society awards the W. R. Browne medal as its highest honour.