Percy Fry Kendall facts for kids

Percy Fry Kendall (born November 15, 1856 – died March 19, 1936) was an English geologist. A geologist is a scientist who studies the Earth, including its rocks, landforms, and history. Percy Kendall became a professor of geology at the University of Leeds and was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a special group for top scientists.

Growing Up and Learning

Percy Kendall was born in Mile End, London, on November 15, 1856. He was the youngest of eight children. His father, Charles Kendall, was a commercial traveler, meaning he traveled to different places to sell goods.

Percy was taught at home when he was young. Later, he went to the Royal College of Science in London. There, he studied biology with a famous scientist named Professor T H Huxley and geology with Professor J W Judd.

Working as a Geologist

In 1885, Percy Kendall started working at Owens College in Manchester. He became an Assistant Lecturer in Geology there in 1887. This meant he helped teach students about geology.

Later, in 1889, he moved to Stockport Technical School. He taught natural sciences part-time. By 1891, he was also teaching part-time at the Yorkshire College in Leeds.

The Yorkshire College later became the University of Leeds in 1904. The university gave him a special degree called a Master of Science (MSc) in 1905. The next year, in 1906, he became a full Professor of Geology at the University of Leeds. He worked there until he retired in 1922.

Awards and Recognition

Percy Kendall received several important awards for his work. In 1909, he was given the Lyell Medal by the Geological Society of London. This award was mainly for his studies on how glaciers shaped the land in England.

In 1924, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. Two years later, in 1926, the University of Leeds gave him another special degree, an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc).

Family Life

Percy Kendall married Helen Mary Woodward in 1886. She was from Wolverhampton. They had two sons together.

His Final Years

Percy Kendall passed away on March 19, 1936, in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex. He was 79 years old. He was buried in Ipswich. His wife and sons were still alive when he died.