George Simpson (meteorologist)

Sir George Clarke Simpson KCB CBE FRS (1878–1965) was a British meteorologist, born in Derby, England.

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 1906, he joined the Indian Meteorological Service at Simla. In 1910, he was the meteorologist for Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic Terra Nova Expedition.

In 1920 he was appointed Director of the Meteorological Office, London. He went on to be its longest serving Director, retiring in 1938. He was knighted in 1935.

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
* [http://allbio.co.uk/biographies/Simpson-%20Sir%20George%20(Clarke)-59F9.html George Clarke Simpson at allbio.co.uk]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/case_southpole/clues.html PBS - "Tragedy at the Pole"]
* [http://www.met-office.gov.uk/education/secondary/students/beaufort.html "Wind force scale"]
* [http://www.jigrah.co.uk/famhis/simpson.htm 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 =