Patrick McTaggart-Cowan
Encyclopedia
Patrick Duncan McTaggart-Cowan, (May 31, 1912 – October 11, 1997) was a Canadian
meteorologist and the first president of Simon Fraser University
.
Born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, he moved to North Vancouver, British Columbia
, Canada with his family in 1913. He received a degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of British Columbia
in 1933. A Rhodes Scholar, he received a Bachelor of Arts
in Natural Science from Corpus Christi College, Oxford
in 1936.
Returning to Canada, he joined the Meteorological Service of Canada
and was an officer in charge of the meteorological service in Newfoundland
from 1937 to 1942. During World War II
, he was the chief meteorologist for the RAF Ferry Command
and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
in 1944.
After the war, he moved to Ontario
and re-joined the Meteorological Service of Canada becoming its director in 1959.
In 1963, he was appointed the first president of Simon Fraser University
and served until 1968. He then became the Executive Director of the Science Council of Canada
and served until his retirement in 1975.
In 1979, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
for his "internationally recognized achievements in meteorology". He was awarded seven honorary doctorates.
In 1939, he married Margaret Palmer and they had two children: Gillian and James Duncan.
His brother is the naturalist Ian McTaggart-Cowan, and his sister the architect Pamela Charlesworth.
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...
meteorologist and the first president of Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
.
Born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, he moved to North Vancouver, British Columbia
North Vancouver, British Columbia
There are two municipalities in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia, Canada, that use the name North Vancouver. These are:*The City of North Vancouver...
, Canada with his family in 1913. He received a degree in Mathematics and Physics from the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
in 1933. A Rhodes Scholar, he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Natural Science from Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
in 1936.
Returning to Canada, he joined the Meteorological Service of Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada
The Meteorological Service of Canada , also known as "The Canadian Weather Service", is a division of Environment Canada, which primarily provides public meteorological information and weather forecasts and warnings of severe weather and other environmental hazards...
and was an officer in charge of the meteorological service in Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
from 1937 to 1942. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was the chief meteorologist for the RAF Ferry Command
RAF Ferry Command
The RAF Ferry Command had a short life, but it spawned, in part, an organisation that lasted well beyond the war years during which it was formed.-History:...
and was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
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 1944.
After the war, he moved to 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....
and re-joined the Meteorological Service of Canada becoming its director in 1959.
In 1963, he was appointed the first president of Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
and served until 1968. He then became the Executive Director of the Science Council of Canada
Science Council of Canada
The Science Council of Canada was a Canadian governmental advisory board existing from 1966 to 1993. It originally had 25 scientists and senior civil servants, later expanded to 40 natural and physical scientists, with the civil servants removed....
and served until his retirement in 1975.
In 1979, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
for his "internationally recognized achievements in meteorology". He was awarded seven honorary doctorates.
In 1939, he married Margaret Palmer and they had two children: Gillian and James Duncan.
His brother is the naturalist Ian McTaggart-Cowan, and his sister the architect Pamela Charlesworth.