George Kingston (meteorologist)
Encyclopedia
George Templeman Kingston (1816–1886) was a Canadian
professor, meteorologist, author, and public servant. For successfully promoting and organizing one of Canada's first national scientific services, Kingston has been called the father of Canadian Meteorology
.
of the Court of Common Pleas
, England. His brother was author William Henry Giles Kingston
. He attended Cambridge University, graduating with honours in mathematics in 1846, and was awarded an M.A. in 1849. In February 1851, he married Harriette Malone (1829-1899), daughter of Edward Malone Esq., at East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, England; they had one son, George Malcolm (born at Quebec, Canada, June 1854).
After teaching at Eton College
for some time, he came to Canada in 1852 to take the position of Principal of the Nautical College at Quebec City
. When that school closed in May 1955, he began his association with the University of Toronto
and the Magnetic Observatory. Recognizing the need for a true description of Canada's climatology
, in 1871 Kingston persuaded the government of the advantage of a network of stations to observe and issue storm warnings. This was the beginning of a national meteorlogical service, which by late 1872 extended from Halifax
to Winnipeg
. In October 1876, the first storm warning prepared in Canada was issued, and in 1877, the first general forecast. The weather predictions were telegraphed to 75 cities and towns in Canada each day and bulletins were then posted. Storm warnings were the more important then and these bulletins were displayed to mariners and sailors by combinations of wicker baskets hung on poles at ports and harbours on the Great Lakes
, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Atlantic Coast
of Canada.
George Templeman Kingston retired from his posts in 1880, and died of pneumonia
on 21 January, 1886, at Toronto
, Ontario
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professor, meteorologist, author, and public servant. For successfully promoting and organizing one of Canada's first national scientific services, Kingston has been called the father of Canadian Meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
.
Biography
George Kingston was born at the British Factory Chaplaincy, Oporto, Portugal on 5 October 1816, a son of British wine merchant Lucy Henry Kingston and his wife Francis Sophia Rooke, and grandson on his mother's side of Sir Giles Rooke, JusticeJustice of the Common Pleas
Justice of the Common Pleas was a puisne judicial position within the Court of Common Pleas of England and Wales, under the Chief Justice. The Common Pleas was the primary court of common law within England and Wales, dealing with "common" pleas...
of the Court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
, England. His brother was author William Henry Giles Kingston
William Henry Giles Kingston
William Henry Giles Kingston , writer of tales for boys, was born in London, but spent much of his youth in Oporto, where his father was a merchant.-Popularity:His first book, The Circassian Chief, appeared in 1844...
. He attended Cambridge University, graduating with honours in mathematics in 1846, and was awarded an M.A. in 1849. In February 1851, he married Harriette Malone (1829-1899), daughter of Edward Malone Esq., at East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon, England; they had one son, George Malcolm (born at Quebec, Canada, June 1854).
After teaching at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
for some time, he came to Canada in 1852 to take the position of Principal of the Nautical College at Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
. When that school closed in May 1955, he began his association with the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and the Magnetic Observatory. Recognizing the need for a true description of Canada's climatology
Climatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
, in 1871 Kingston persuaded the government of the advantage of a network of stations to observe and issue storm warnings. This was the beginning of a national meteorlogical service, which by late 1872 extended from Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. In October 1876, the first storm warning prepared in Canada was issued, and in 1877, the first general forecast. The weather predictions were telegraphed to 75 cities and towns in Canada each day and bulletins were then posted. Storm warnings were the more important then and these bulletins were displayed to mariners and sailors by combinations of wicker baskets hung on poles at ports and harbours on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, the St. Lawrence Seaway, and the Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
of Canada.
George Templeman Kingston retired from his posts in 1880, and died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on 21 January, 1886, at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
External links
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- The Canadian Encyclopaedia Historica
- The Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, April 1929, pages 160-162 (middle name mis-spelled)