Sir George Clarke Simpson KCB CBE FRS (1878–1965) was a British meteorologist, born in Derby, England.
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Biography
George Clarke Simpson was born 2 September 1878 in Derby England, the son of Arthur Simpson, a Toy Dealer, and Alice Lambton Clarke. He died 1 January 1965.
Education
Simpson was educated at Derby School, Owens College, Manchester and the University of Göttingen.
Career
In 1901 he became the first person to lecture in meteorology at a British university. In 1905, he was appointed as a lecturer at Manchester University. In 1910, he was the meteorologist for Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Terra Nova Expedition, continuing to work with Scott until 1913. In 1920 he was appointed Director of the Meteorological Office, London. He went on to be its longest serving Director, retiring in 1938. He investigated the causes of lightning and established the Simpson wind force scale, a modification of the Beaufort wind force scale, which is the current standard scale used worldwide; still called the Beaufort wind force scale.
Family
Simpson married Dorothy Jane Stephen, daughter of Cecil Stephen, on 23 September 1914. They had four children: Scott Simpson (1915-1981), Professor of Geology at Exeter University; Arthur Simpson (British scientist specialized in the study of plants and sea animals); Oliver Simpson; and Jean Simpson.
Honours
- Hon DSc (Manchester & Sydney)
- Hon LLD (Aberdeen)
- Fellow of the Royal Society, 1915
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1919
- Companion of the Order of the Bath, 1926
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, 1935
- President of the British Meteorological Society, 1940-1942
- The British Antarctic Survey's Ice and Climate Building in Halley Bay, Antarctica (75° 35'S, 26° 40'W), is known as The Simpson Platform, in memory of Sir George Clarke Simpson.
References
- George Clarke Simpson, 1878-1965 by Gordon Manley, in Journal of Glaciology, vol.5, Issue 42, October 1965, pp.873-874
- George Clarke Simpson at allbio.co.uk
- PBS - "Tragedy at the Pole"
- "Wind force scale"
- Simpson family genealogy
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Simpson, George Clarke |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | British meteorologist |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 2 September 1878 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Derby England |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1 January 1965 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
