Maurice Hill (geophysicist) facts for kids

Maurice Neville Hill (born May 29, 1919 – died January 11, 1966) was a clever British scientist. He studied the Earth's oceans and crust, which is called marine geophysics. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very important honor for scientists.

Meet Maurice Hill: A Family of Thinkers

Maurice Hill came from a very smart family! His dad was Archibald Vivian Hill, a physiologist who won a Nobel Prize for his work on muscles. His mom was Margaret Hill, who helped people in society.

Maurice also had famous relatives on his mom's side. His grandfather was John Neville Keynes, and his uncle was John Maynard Keynes, a very well-known economist. Maurice's sister, Polly Hill, was also an economist, and his brother, David Keynes Hill, was a biophysicist who studied living things.

Maurice's School Days and Studies

Maurice went to Byron House School and then Highgate School. Later, he studied at King's College, Cambridge, which is a famous university. He worked hard and earned his PhD there.

After finishing his studies, Maurice became a Fellow at King's College in 1949. This meant he was a special member of the college. From 1961, he was the Director of Studies in Natural Sciences, helping guide other students. In 1965, he became a Reader in Marine Geophysics at Cambridge University. This is like being a senior professor who teaches and does research.

His Family Life

In 1944, Maurice Hill married Philippa Pass. They had a lovely family with two sons and three daughters. One of their daughters is Julia Riley, and one of their sons is Mark Hill.

Awards and Special Recognition

Maurice Hill was highly respected for his scientific work. He received several important honors during his life.

In 1951, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. This society is for people who study space and stars. Two years later, in 1953, he became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, which is for scientists who study the Earth.

A very big honor came in 1962 when he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is one of the oldest and most respected scientific groups in the world. Only the best scientists become Fellows. In 1963, he was also given the Charles Chree Medal and Prize for his excellent contributions to science.