Osborn Maitland Miller facts for kids

Osborn Maitland Miller (born 1897, died 1979) was a talented Scottish-American mapmaker, land surveyor, and photographer who took pictures from the air. He was part of many exciting expeditions himself. He also gave advice to other explorers on their journeys.

Miller created several special ways to draw maps, called map projections. His most famous invention was the Miller Cylindrical map projection, which he developed in 1942. Because of his important work, a place in Antarctica, the Maitland Glacier, was named after him in 1952. He also received a special award, the Charles P. Daly Medal, in 1962.

Early Life and Education

Osborn Miller was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1897. He went to school at Glenalmond College. Later, he studied at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

After his studies, Miller joined the army. He became an officer in the Royal Field Artillery. He served during the First World War. For his bravery, he was given the Military Cross award in 1917.

A Career in Maps

In 1922, Miller began working for the American Geographical Society. This is a group dedicated to exploring and understanding the world's geography. He worked there for a very long time, until 1968.

During his career, Miller became known for his amazing skills in cartography, which is the art and science of making maps. He helped explorers and scientists understand the world better through his detailed maps and aerial photographs.

His Legacy

Osborn Miller's contributions to mapmaking were very important. To honor his work, the American Geographical Society created a special award. It is called the Osborn Maitland Miller Cartographic Medal. This medal is given to people who make "outstanding contributions" to mapmaking or geodesy. Geodesy is the science of measuring and understanding Earth's shape and gravity.

Miller's work helped many people explore and learn about our planet. His map projections are still used today.