Edgeworth David facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
Edgeworth David
|
|
|---|---|
Tannatt William Edgeworth David, 1898
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Tannatt William Edgeworth David
28 January 1858 St Fagans, Cardiff, Wales |
| Died | 28 August 1934 (aged 76) Sydney, New South Wales |
| Cause of death | Lobar pneumonia |
| Spouse | Caroline (Cara) David |
| Children | Margaret McIntyre Mary Edgeworth David William Edgeworth David |
| Education | Magdalen College School |
| Alma mater | New College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Geologist, polar explorer |
| Known for |
|
| Civilian awards |
|
| Military service | |
| Branch |  First Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Unit | Australian Mining Corps |
| Wars | World War I |
| Military awards |
|
Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David (born January 28, 1858 – died August 28, 1934) was an amazing Welsh Australian geologist and Antarctic explorer. During his lifetime, he was very well-known. Some of his biggest achievements include finding a huge Hunter Valley coalfield in New South Wales. He also led the very first team to reach the South Magnetic Pole. Plus, he served bravely in World War I.
Contents
Who Was Edgeworth David?
Edgeworth David was a truly remarkable person. He was a scientist who studied rocks and the Earth (a geologist). He also explored the frozen lands of Antarctica. Later in his life, he even became a soldier during a major war. His work helped Australia grow and added a lot to our understanding of the world.
Early Life and Learning
Edgeworth David was born on January 28, 1858, in a place called St Fagans near Cardiff, Wales. His father was a scholar and loved nature. His mother's cousin, William Ussher, worked for the Geological Survey. This cousin first sparked young David's interest in geology.
When he was 12, David went to Magdalen College School, Oxford. Later, he earned a scholarship to New College, Oxford. He got sick in 1878 and traveled to Canada and Australia to get better. When he returned to Oxford, he took geology classes. These classes made him even more interested in the subject. After finishing his studies, he spent two years exploring the geology of Wales. In 1882, he moved to Australia to work as an Assistant Geological Surveyor.
Discovering Australia's Riches
David started his new job in Australia in November 1882. He quickly began exploring the land. In 1884, he wrote a report about tin deposits in the New England area. This report was very important for mining. On July 30, 1885, he married Caroline Mallett, also known as Cara. She was a school principal.
In 1886, he began looking at the Hunter Valley coalfields. In August, he made a huge discovery: the Greta coal seam. This coal seam produced a massive amount of coal over the years. For the next four years, he spent much of his time near Maitland. He continued to map coal areas and advise the government.
In 1891, David became a Professor of Geology at the University of Sydney. He held this important job until 1924. He was a great scientist and a kind, enthusiastic teacher. He worked hard to improve his department at the university.
Exploring Coral Islands
In 1896, David traveled to the Pacific island of Funafuti. He was part of an expedition trying to understand how coral islands are formed. They drilled into the ground to collect samples. The first attempt didn't go very deep.
In 1897, David led a second expedition. This time, they drilled much deeper, reaching 557 feet (170 meters). He then organized a third expedition in 1898. This team drilled even deeper, to 1114 feet (340 meters). The results supported Charles Darwin's idea about how coral reefs form. These expeditions made David famous as a geologist. His wife, Cara, joined him on the second trip. She wrote a popular book about their adventures called Funafuti, or Three Months on a Coral Island.
David's fame grew around the world. In 1899, he received the Bigsby Medal from the Geological Society of London. In 1900, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists.
Adventures in Antarctica
In 1907, David was invited to join Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition. This was called the Nimrod Expedition. David was almost 50 years old. He originally planned to stay only a few months. But on the way to Antarctica, he decided to stay for the whole journey.
Climbing Mount Erebus
From March 5 to 11, 1908, David led the first climb of Mount Erebus. This is the only active volcano in Antarctica. David, along with his former students Douglas Mawson and Alistair Mackay, reached the top. They faced a terrible snowstorm but succeeded. One team member got severe frostbite. David and four others made it to the summit and returned safely.
Journey to the South Magnetic Pole
On October 5, David, Mawson, and Mackay set out to reach the Magnetic South Pole. For 10 weeks, they followed the coast. They ate seals and penguins to survive. Then, they went inland. They still had a 700-kilometer (435-mile) journey ahead.
On January 16, 1909, they finally reached the South Magnetic Pole! They claimed the area for the British Crown. By the end of January, all three explorers were very tired and unwell. David was struggling, so Mawson took over the leadership. On February 3, they reached the coast just in time. The ship Nimrod picked them up. The team had traveled an incredible 1260 miles (2028 kilometers). This was the longest unsupported sled journey for many years.
When David returned to Sydney, he received a hero's welcome. He also went on a lecture tour. This helped raise money to publish books about the expedition's geology. He also wrote his own story about the Magnetic Pole journey. In 1910, he received another honor, becoming a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
A Hero in World War I
When World War I started in 1914, David strongly supported the war effort. In August 1915, he read about mining and tunneling during the war. He suggested that the government create a military force for mining. His idea was accepted. David used his skills to help set up the Australian Mining Corps. On October 25, 1915, he became a major at 57 years old.
The first group of the corps had 1,300 soldiers. They were organized into tunneling companies. In February 1916, they left Australia for the United Kingdom. They arrived on the Western Front in May 1916. David became a 'Geological Adviser'. He used his knowledge to help build dugouts, trenches, and tunnels. He also found places for clean drinking water.
In September 1916, he had an accident and broke two ribs. He recovered and returned to the Front in November. He became the main geological advisor for the British army. On June 7, 1917, his wartime work was very important. He helped with the mining operations in the Battle of Messines. In January 1918, David received the Distinguished Service Order. In November, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He left the army in 1919.
Later Years and Lasting Impact
In 1920, David was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. This was for his great service during the war. He bought a home in Hornsby, Sydney. He also started working on a huge project: writing a complete book called The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia.
In 1921, David helped create the Australian National Research Council. He was its first President. In 1924, he retired as Professor of Geology at the University of Sydney. In 1931, he published a Geological Map of the Commonwealth. He died in 1934 before finishing his big book. He was given a state funeral.
David's important book, The Geology of the Commonwealth of Australia, was finished by his friend William R. Browne in 1950. Many things are named after him to honor his work. The Edgeworth David Medal is given to young scientists. The mineral davidite is named after him. There is also an Edgeworth David Building at a TAFE campus.
In Antarctica, David Island and Edgeworth David Base are named after him. The suburb of Edgeworth in New South Wales is also named in his honor. The Edgeworth David quarry and David's Drill on Funafuti also carry his name. He was even featured on two Australian postage stamps.
His daughter, Margaret McIntyre, became the first woman elected to the Parliament of Tasmania. In 1999, David's family home in Hornsby, called Coringah, became a heritage site. Today, part of the land is the Edgeworth David Community Garden. There is also a road called Edgeworth David Avenue in Hornsby.
