John Henderson (geologist) explained

John Henderson
Birth Date:1880 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Dunedin, New Zealand
Death Place:Hataitai, Wellington, New Zealand
Alma Mater:University of Otago

John Henderson (13 May 1880 – 5 March 1959) was a New Zealand geologist and science administrator.

Biography

Born in Dunedin in 1880, Henderson was educated at Otago Boys' High School.[1] He then studied at the University of Otago, where he completed his BSc and Diploma in Mining and Certificate of Metallurgical Chemist and Assayer in 1902.[2] He graduated MA from Victoria University College in 1906,[3] [4] and DSc from Otago and Victoria in 1908.[5]

He served as director of the Reefton School of Mines from 1903 to 1911, when he joined the New Zealand Geological Survey as a mining geologist. He succeeded Percy Morgan as director of the Geological Survey in 1928. Henderson retired in 1945 and was himself succeeded by Montague Ongley.[6]

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1929,[7] and was award the society's Hector Medal in 1945.[8] In the 1948 New Year Honours he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his service as director of the New Zealand Geological Survey.

Henderson died at his home in the Wellington suburb of Hataitai in 1959,[1] and his ashes were buried in Karori Cemetery.[9]

Notes and References

  1. July 1959 . John Henderson (1880–1959) . Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 87 . 1/2 . 113–117 .
  2. News: Otago School of Mines . 9 May 1903 . Otago Daily Times . 21 October 2014 . 2 .
  3. Web site: NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Ha–He . 21 October 2014.
  4. News: Degree day . 29 June 1906 . Evening Post . 21 October 2014 . 6.
  5. News: Capping day . 25 June 1908 . Evening Post . 21 October 2014 . 8.
  6. News: Director retires . 13 July 1945 . Evening Post . 21 October 2014 . 6.
  7. Web site: The Academy: G–I . Royal Society of New Zealand . 21 October 2014.
  8. Web site: Hector Medal . Royal Society of New Zealand . 21 October 2014.
  9. Web site: Cemeteries search . 12 July 2012 . Wellington City Council . 21 October 2014.