William Gilbert Chaloner
Encyclopedia
Professor William Gilbert Chaloner FRS (born 22 Nov 1928) is a distinguished British paleobotanist. He is Emeritus Professor of Botany in the Earth Sciences Department at Royal Holloway, University of London
, and Visiting Professor in Earth Sciences at University College, London.
. He attended evening classes in Geology at Chelsea Polytechnic.
In 1947 he went up Reading University to study Botany, Geology and Chemistry and gained his B.Sc. in 1950 and a Ph.D in 1953. After a year at the University of Michigan he returned home to serve two years National Service in the army before joining the faculty of the Department of Botany at University College, London in 1956. In 1972 he became Professor of Botany at Birkbeck College. In 1979 he was appointed to the Hildred Carlyle Chair of Botany at Bedford College. He has held visiting professorships at Pennsylvania State University
, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Massachusetts
.
William is a Fellow of the Royal Society
, and the Linnean Society and the recipient of several awards, including the Linnean Medal
and the Palaeontological Association
's Lapworth Medal
. He was elected as a Trustee for the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in 1983. He was president of the Linnean Society from 1985 to 1988.
He married his American wife Judith; they have two daughters and a son.
Royal Holloway, University of London
Royal Holloway, University of London is a constituent college of the University of London. The college has three faculties, 18 academic departments, and about 8,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 130 different countries...
, and Visiting Professor in Earth Sciences at University College, London.
Life
Chaloner was born in Chelsea, the son of Ernest J and Lenore (née Maude) Chaloner and was educated at Kingston Grammar SchoolKingston Grammar School
Kingston Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. The school was founded by Royal Charter in 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century. It is a registered charity under English law....
. He attended evening classes in Geology at Chelsea Polytechnic.
In 1947 he went up Reading University to study Botany, Geology and Chemistry and gained his B.Sc. in 1950 and a Ph.D in 1953. After a year at the University of Michigan he returned home to serve two years National Service in the army before joining the faculty of the Department of Botany at University College, London in 1956. In 1972 he became Professor of Botany at Birkbeck College. In 1979 he was appointed to the Hildred Carlyle Chair of Botany at Bedford College. He has held visiting professorships at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
.
William is a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, and the Linnean Society and the recipient of several awards, including the Linnean Medal
Linnean Medal
The Linnean Medal of the Linnean Society of London was established in 1888, and is awarded annually to alternately a botanist or a zoologist or to one of each in the same year...
and the Palaeontological Association
Palaeontological Association
The Palaeontological Association is a charitable organisation based in the UK founded in 1957 for the promotion of the study of palaeontology.-Functions:...
's Lapworth Medal
Lapworth Medal
The Lapworth Medal is the highest award of the Palaeontological Association, given to those who have made a significant contribution to the science by means of a substantial body of research.Recent winners are:*2010 - Dr Robin Cocks...
. He was elected as a Trustee for the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in 1983. He was president of the Linnean Society from 1985 to 1988.
He married his American wife Judith; they have two daughters and a son.