William Bernard Robinson King (12 November 1889 – 23 January 1963) was a British geologist.

Education

King was educated at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

graduating a first-class Honours degree in geology in 1912

Career

He joined the

British Geological Survey The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a partly publicly funded body which aims to advance geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its continental shelf by means of systematic surveying, monitoring and research. The BGS h ...

(then called the Geological Survey of Great Britain) and distinguished himself on field studies in Wales. In 1914 he was commissioned as a second-lieutenant in the Territorial Army and in 1915 was rapidly trained as a hydrologist and sent to France to assist the Chief Engineer of the British Expeditionary Force establish potable water supplies from boreholes. He has been called "the first British military hydrogeologist" The most senior of the three military geologists at the start of World War II, Major King was sent to France in 1939. where he later advised on suitable sites for airfields and the D-Day landings. He was awarded a Military Cross in 1940. In 1943 he became

Woodwardian Professor of Geology The Woodwardian Professor of Geology is a professorship held in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Cambridge. It was founded by John Woodward in 1728 under the title of Professor of Fossils. Woodward's will left to the University ...

at the

. He was elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the judges of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1949. His candidacy document read

Personal life

He was the father of Cuchlaine King

References

* Bate, David G.; Morrison, Andrew L
'Some aspects of the British Geological Survey’s contribution to the war effort at the Western Front, 1914–1918'
(''Proceedings of the Geologists' Association'', Volume 129, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 3–11) * Rose, E.P.F.; Rosenbaum, M.S. 'British military geologists: the formative years to the end of the First World War' (''Proceedings of the Geologists' Association'', Volume 104, Issue 1, 1993, Pages 41–49) * Rose, E.P.F.; Rosenbaum, M.S. 'British military geologists: through the Second World War to the end of the Cold War' (''Proceedings of the Geologists' Association'', Volume 104, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 95–108) * Underwood, James R.; Guth, Peter L. (eds) ''Military Geology in War and Peace'' (Reviews in Engineering Geology Volume XIII, 1998) 1889 births 1963 deaths Woodwardian Professors of Geology Academics of University College London Alumni of Jesus College, Cambridge British Army personnel of World War I 20th-century British geologists Fellows of the Royal Society Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Uppingham School People from Richmondshire (district) Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Welch Fusiliers officers Scientists from Yorkshire {{UK-geologist-stub

Education

Career

Personal life

References

Further reading