Person Simpson; Sir; George Clarke (1878 - 1965); meteorologist Simpson George Clarke Sir meteorologist 1878 - 1965 British Male Derby, England, United Kingdom 02 September 1878 18780902 Clifton Court, Clifton, Bristol, England, United Kingdom 01 January 1965 19650101

Meteorologist Meteorology Atmospheric electricity Education: Diocesan School, Derby; Owens College, Manchester University; University of Gottingen Career: Left school and joined his father's business (1894); unsalaried tutor in physics, Dalton Hall (1897); spent a year in Lapland where he obtained continuous records of atmospheric electricity (1902); appointed lecturer in meteorology in Manchester, the first in any British university (1905); joined the Indian Meteorological Department (1906); joined an Antarctic expedition. C. S. Wright, meteorological and electrical measurements of which he published (1909); returned to India, spending some of the time on secondment to the Indian munitions board (1912-1918); Director, Meteorological Office (1920); published three papers on the radiation balance of the earth and atmosphere (1928-9); retired (1930s); took charge of Kew observatory where he continued his research on the electrical structure of thunderstorms and electrification of precipitation until (1939-1947); spent the last years of his retirement at Westbury-on-Trym. Honours: CBE 1919; CB 1926; KCB 1935 Memberships: FRMS (President 1940-1941) British Association (Council 1927-1935) Parents: Arthur Simpson (1851–1917), small businessman who became mayor of Derby, and Alice Lambton (1853–1937), daughter of Thomas William Clarke, wharfinger of Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. Spouse: Dorothy Jane Stephen (d. 1978), daughter of Cecil Stephen, barrister in New South Wales. Children: Scott Simpson (1915–1981), Professor of Geology at Exeter University; Arthur Simpson (British scientist specialised in the study of plants and sea animals); Oliver Simpson (a National Physical Laboratory physicist); and Jean Simpson, a medical doctor. Published important researches on atmosperic electricity. Established the diurnal and seasonal variations. Studied thunderstorm electricity and the electrical charges on raindrops. Fellow 06/05/1915 37 John Allen Harker William Henry Dines Charles Herbert Lees Joseph Ernest Petavel Harold Baily Dixon William Napier Shaw Henry Enfield Roscoe Gilbert Thomas Walker Arthur Schuster Sources: Bulloch's Roll Obituaries: Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 1965 vol 11 pp 157-175, plate, by E Gold References: R Singh and F Riess, 'The nobel laureate Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman FRS and his contacts with the British Scientific community in a social and political context' in NR 2004 vol 58 pp 47-64 ©Godfrey Argent Studio International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.1965.0011 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/action/doSearch?ContribAuthorRaw=Simpson%2C+George+Clarke https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH7771 2 Sep 1878 - 1 Jan 1965 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 25/06/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA1890 21/11/2001 Andyg Martind 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes http://viaf.org/viaf/30318665 45c51f37-bfd9-41bb-b95b-1b776f01a505