Michael Williams, FBA (1935–2009) was a Welsh historical geographer, known particularly for his work on

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated d ...

. He had a personal chair at the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

from 1996.

Life

He was the second son of Benjamin Williams and his wife, Ethel Mary Marshell of

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

, born in Rheanfa House Maternity Hospital. He studied at

University College, Swansea Swansea University ( cy, Prifysgol Abertawe) is a public university, public research university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. It was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. ...

from 1953, and fell under the influence of the geographer Frank Emery. He graduated B.A. in 1956, and Ph.D. in 1960 with a thesis on the

Somerset Levels The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset, England, running south from the Mendip Hills, Mendips to the Blackdown Hills. The Somerset Levels have an area of about and are bisected by the Polden Hills; the areas to ...

. By that time married, he moved on to

St Catharine's College, Cambridge St Catharine's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473 as Katharine Hall, it adopted its current name in 1860. The college is nicknamed "Catz". The college is located in the historic city-centre of Camb ...

, working for an education diploma. Later in 1960, Williams took a lecturing post at the

University of Adelaide The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...

, becoming reader in 1970. In 1978 he went to the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

, where he was a reader from 1990, professor from 1996, and a Fellow of

Oriel College Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...

. He was elected a fellow of the

British Academy The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the same year. It is now a fellowship of more than 1,000 leading scholars span ...

in 1989.Professor Michael Williams
Professor emeritus from 2002, Williams died of

adult respiratory distress syndrome Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a type of respiratory failure characterized by rapid onset of widespread inflammation in the lungs. Symptoms include shortness of breath (dyspnea), rapid breathing (tachypnea), and bluish skin color ...

on 26 October 2009.

Works

Williams's books included: *''The Draining of the Somerset Levels'' (1970) *''The Making of the South Australian Landscape'' (1976) *''The Changing Rural Landscape of South Australia'' (1977) *''Americans and their Forests'' (1989), Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Book Award of the American Forest and Conservation Society *''Deforesting the Earth, from Prehistory to Global Crisis'' (2003), Weyerhaeuser Book Award and Meridian Prize of the Association of American Geographers.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Michael 1935 births 2009 deaths Welsh geographers Fellows of Oriel College, Oxford Historical geographers Environmental historians Fellows of the British Academy