author
Sir John William Dawson
1820–1899
A leading Canadian geologist and educator, he helped shape McGill University while building a reputation for work in paleobotany and the geology of Nova Scotia and Canada. His career joined scientific fieldwork, teaching, and public leadership at a time when Canadian institutions were still taking form.
9 Audiobooks
The Meeting-Place of Geology and History
by Sir John William Dawson
The Chain of Life in Geological Time A Sketch of the Origin and Succession of Animals and Plants
by Sir John William Dawson
The Origin of the World According to Revelation and Science
by Sir John William Dawson
Some Salient Points in the Science of the Earth
by Sir John William Dawson
The Geological History of Plants
by Sir John William Dawson
Facts and fancies in modern science Studies of the relations of science to prevalent speculations and religious belief
by Sir John William Dawson
Life's Dawn on Earth Being the history of the oldest known fossil remains, and their relations to geological time and to the development of the animal kingdom
by Sir John William Dawson
The Story of the Earth and Man
by Sir John William Dawson
Relics of Primeval Life: Beginning of Life in the Dawn of Geological Time
by Sir John William Dawson
About the author
Born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, in 1820, Dawson studied at the University of Edinburgh and returned to British North America with a strong interest in geology and natural history. Early in his career he worked in education in Nova Scotia, while also surveying the province's rocks, fossils, and natural history.
He is best known for his long service at McGill University, where he was principal from 1855 to 1893 and also taught natural history and geology. During those decades, McGill grew significantly, and Dawson became one of the most visible scientific figures in Canada.
Dawson wrote widely on geology, paleobotany, and fossils, and he played an important role in Canadian scientific life beyond the university as well, including helping found the Royal Society of Canada and serving as its first president. Knighted in 1884, he is remembered today both for his scientific work and for his influence on higher education in Canada.