Oliver Bulman
Encyclopedia
Oliver Meredith Boone Bulman (20 May 1902 - 18 February 1974) was a British palaeontologist. He was Woodwardian Professor of Geology
at Cambridge University.
to artist Henry Herbert Bulman and his wife Beatrice Elizabeth Boone. He was the second of three children.
in 1910, but wishing to study geology, which the school did not teach, he became an evening, and later day, student at Chelsea Polytechnic. He gained a London University scholarship in 1920 and went to Imperial College to study geology and zoology. He graduated with a first class BSc in geology in 1923. Bulman went on to a PhD degree jointly with James Stubblefield
on the lower Palaeozoic of the Wrekin district, of Shropshire
in 1926.
Awarded a senior studentship, he worked for a year on Permian
amphibians with Walter Frederick Whittard
and for two years at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
, where he studied dendroid graptolites under Gertrude Lilian Elles. Work on the Palaeontographical Society
's monograph British Dendroid Graptolites (1927 and 1928) earned him a Cambridge PhD degree in 1928. He then worked as demonstrator at Imperial College and at Cambridge. He became reader
in palaeozoology in 1944 and Woodwardian Professor of Geology
in 1955.
(1960–62), the Geological Society
(1962–4), and the Palaeontographical Society (1971–4). The Geological Society awarded him the Lyell Medal
in 1953.
, the professor of geology at Sheffield. They had a son and three daughters. He died at home in Cambridge in 1974, and was cremated.
Woodwardian Professor of Geology
The Woodwardian Professor of Geology is a professorship held in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge. It was founded by John Woodward in 1728...
at Cambridge University.
Early life
Oliver Bulman was born in ChelseaChelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
to artist Henry Herbert Bulman and his wife Beatrice Elizabeth Boone. He was the second of three children.
Education
Bulman went to Battersea Grammar SchoolBattersea Grammar School
Battersea Grammar School was a Voluntary-Controlled Secondary Grammar School in South London. It was established in Battersea by the Sir Walter St John Trust in 1875 and moved to larger premises in Streatham in 1936....
in 1910, but wishing to study geology, which the school did not teach, he became an evening, and later day, student at Chelsea Polytechnic. He gained a London University scholarship in 1920 and went to Imperial College to study geology and zoology. He graduated with a first class BSc in geology in 1923. Bulman went on to a PhD degree jointly with James Stubblefield
Cyril James Stubblefield
Sir James Stubblefield FRS was a British geologist. Stubblefield was the President of the Geological Society of London from 1958 to 1960 and was the Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain from 1960 until 1966.-Early life:...
on the lower Palaeozoic of the Wrekin district, of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
in 1926.
Awarded a senior studentship, he worked for a year on Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
amphibians with Walter Frederick Whittard
Walter Frederick Whittard
Walter Frederick Whittard was professor of geology at Bristol. He received the Murchison Medal of the Geological Society of London in 1965....
and for two years at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
, where he studied dendroid graptolites under Gertrude Lilian Elles. Work on the Palaeontographical Society
Palaeontographical Society
The Palaeontographical Society is a learned society established in 1847 and specifically devoted to the advancement of palaeontographical knowledge, i.e., palaeontology...
's monograph British Dendroid Graptolites (1927 and 1928) earned him a Cambridge PhD degree in 1928. He then worked as demonstrator at Imperial College and at Cambridge. He became reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
in palaeozoology in 1944 and Woodwardian Professor of Geology
Woodwardian Professor of Geology
The Woodwardian Professor of Geology is a professorship held in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge. It was founded by John Woodward in 1728...
in 1955.
Honours
Bulman was elected an FRS in 1940 and was president of the geology section of the British Association, the Palaeontological AssociationPalaeontological Association
The Palaeontological Association is a charitable organisation based in the UK founded in 1957 for the promotion of the study of palaeontology.-Functions:...
(1960–62), the Geological Society
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"...
(1962–4), and the Palaeontographical Society (1971–4). The Geological Society awarded him 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...
in 1953.
Private life
In 1938 he married Marguerite Fearnsides, daughter of William FearnsidesWilliam George Fearnsides
William George Fearnsides FRS was a British geologist....
, the professor of geology at Sheffield. They had a son and three daughters. He died at home in Cambridge in 1974, and was cremated.