William Quarrier Kennedy facts for kids

William Quarrier Kennedy (1903–1979) was a famous Scottish geologist. Geologists are scientists who study the Earth, including rocks, mountains, and how the planet changes over time. William Kennedy was especially interested in the geology of Scotland and Africa. People often called him W. Q. Kennedy.

Early Life and School Days

William Kennedy was born on November 30, 1903, in a place called Bridge of Weir in Scotland. He was born at the William Quarrier School for Orphans, which was a special school for children who didn't have parents. His father was the headmaster there. William was named after the person who started the school.

He went to school with the orphans and then attended High School of Glasgow. Later, he went to Glasgow University. First, he studied farming, earning a degree in 1926. Then, he decided to study geology, which is the science of the Earth. He got his second degree in geology in 1927. After that, he continued his geology studies in Zurich, Switzerland.

Working as a Geologist

In 1928, William Kennedy started working for the Geological Survey of Great Britain. This group helps map and understand the rocks and land of Britain. He worked there for many years, learning a lot about the Earth.

In 1945, he became a Professor of Geology at the University of Leeds in England. This meant he taught students all about geology. From 1955, he also led a special group called the Institute of African Geology. This group focused on studying the geology of Africa.

Important Discoveries and Awards

William Kennedy made a very important discovery in 1946. He was the first to figure out that the Great Glen Fault in Scotland had moved a lot horizontally. A "fault" is like a giant crack in the Earth's crust where rocks have moved past each other. His discovery helped scientists understand how the Earth's surface changes.

For his amazing work, he received several awards. In 1949, he won the Bigsby Medal from the Geological Society of London. Later, in 1967, he was awarded the Lyell Medal, another very important award for geologists.

He was also chosen to be a member of important scientific groups. In 1948, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The next year, in 1949, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. These are special honors given to top scientists.

William Kennedy retired in 1967. He passed away on March 13, 1979, in Harrogate, England.

Family Life

In 1933, William Kennedy married Elizabeth Jane Lawson McCubbin. They had three children: Elspeth, Anne, and Alastair. Later, he married Sylvia Margaret Greeves. With Sylvia, he had two more children: Susan Joy and Robert William.