Robert George Spencer Hudson
Encyclopedia
Robert George Spencer Hudson (1895-11-17 – 1965-12-29) was an English
Geologist
and Paleontologist. He was born in Rugby, Warwickshire
, the eldest son of Robert Spencer Hudson.
He was educated at St Matthew's School
and then Lawrence Sheriff School
, where his interest in geology was started through a schoolmaster taking the students fossil hunting in the strata used for cement making.
Hudson left school in 1913 and became a student teacher at Elborow Boys' School. In World War I
, he served in the Artists' Rifles
and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, becoming a 2nd Lieutenant (Acting Captain). In 1918 he went to University College, London, to read geology, graduating with first class honours in 1920.
His early career was academic, first at University College, London, and then Leeds University where he became Professor of Geology
. In 1946 he joined the Iraq Petroleum Company
and did extensive field trips to Kurdistan, British Mandate of Palestine, Iraq
, and Oman
. He retired from Iraq Petroleum Company
in 1958, and became an Iveagh Research Fellow at Trinity College, Dublin
in 1960. He was appointed to the Chair of Geology and Mineralogy there in 1961.
In 1958 he was awarded the Murchison Medal
by the Geological Society of London
for "his significant contribution to the science by means of a substantial body of research."
He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
in 1961. He was also Vice President of the Geological Society of London
and founder President of the Paleontological Association. Between 1923 and 1966 over one hundred of his papers were published. He died in his College rooms in Dublin.
Two of his brothers received the Member of the British Empire: William Spencer Hudson for his work as regional fuel engineer in Nottingham
and Edward Charles Hudson during World War II
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
and Paleontologist. He was born in Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
, the eldest son of Robert Spencer Hudson.
He was educated at St Matthew's School
St Matthew's Primary School
St Matthew’s Primary School is a primary school in Cambridge, England.Situated in the , St Matthew’s is a non-denominational school catering for around 420 children aged between 3 and 11 , also with an affiliated after-school kids’ club....
and then Lawrence Sheriff School
Lawrence Sheriff School
Lawrence Sheriff School is a selective boys' grammar school in Rugby in Warwickshire. The school is named after Lawrence Sheriff, the Elizabethan man who founded Rugby School. The school's name is often shortened to 'LSS', or often just 'Sheriff' by boys at the school. In a recent OFSTED ...
, where his interest in geology was started through a schoolmaster taking the students fossil hunting in the strata used for cement making.
Hudson left school in 1913 and became a student teacher at Elborow Boys' School. In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he served in the Artists' Rifles
Artists' Rifles
The Artists Rifles is a volunteer regiment of the British Army. Raised in London in 1859 as a volunteer light infantry unit, the regiment saw active service during the Boer Wars and World War I, earning a number of battle honours; however, it did not serve outside of Britain during World War II, as...
and the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, becoming a 2nd Lieutenant (Acting Captain). In 1918 he went to University College, London, to read geology, graduating with first class honours in 1920.
His early career was academic, first at University College, London, and then Leeds University where he became Professor of Geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. In 1946 he joined the Iraq Petroleum Company
Iraq Petroleum Company
The Iraq Petroleum Company , until 1929 called Turkish Petroleum Company , was an oil company jointly owned by some of the world's largest oil companies, which had virtual monopoly on all oil exploration and production in Iraq from 1925 to 1961...
and did extensive field trips to Kurdistan, British Mandate of Palestine, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. He retired from Iraq Petroleum Company
Iraq Petroleum Company
The Iraq Petroleum Company , until 1929 called Turkish Petroleum Company , was an oil company jointly owned by some of the world's largest oil companies, which had virtual monopoly on all oil exploration and production in Iraq from 1925 to 1961...
in 1958, and became an Iveagh Research Fellow at 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 1960. He was appointed to the Chair of Geology and Mineralogy there in 1961.
In 1958 he was awarded the Murchison Medal
Murchison Medal
An award established by Roderick Murchison, who died in 1871. One of the closing public acts of Murchison’s life was the founding of a chair of geology and mineralogy in the University of Edinburgh. Under his will there was established the Murchison Medal and geological fund to be awarded annually...
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"...
for "his significant contribution to the science by means of a substantial body of research."
He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1961. He was also Vice President of 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"...
and founder President of the Paleontological Association. Between 1923 and 1966 over one hundred of his papers were published. He died in his College rooms in Dublin.
Two of his brothers received the Member of the British Empire: William Spencer Hudson for his work as regional fuel engineer in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and Edward Charles Hudson 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...
.
External links
- Notes on Selected People of Rugby District. (Accessed 2005-11-27)
- Papers and correspondence of Robert George Spencer Hudson and the Palaeontological Association. (Accessed 2005-11-27)