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The Founders of Seismology
Charles Davison (1858 1940) was a renowned British mathematician and seismologist. In this book, which was first published in 1927, Davison provides a historical study regarding the origins of seismology and the key figures in its development. The text was based upon a series of articles which appeared in the Geological Magazine during 1921, although more material was added subsequently. Illustrative figures and notes are incorporated throughout. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in earthquakes, seismology and the history of science.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
About the author
Charles Davison
31 booksLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Charles^Davison (1858-1940)
DAVISON, Charles (1858-1940), mathematician and writer on seismology, was born 1 May 1858 in Bishopswearmouth, County Durham, the second son of Edwin Charles Davison, fleet paymaster, Royal Navy, and his wife Elizabeth. Daughter of Joseph L. Spence of Swaytield, Lincolnshire. He went to the College of Physical Science (later Armstrong College), Newcastle upon Tyne (1874-7), and then to Emmanuel College, Cambridge (1877-81), where he became a scholar in 1879. He obtained a BA in mathematics (thirteenth wrangler) in 1881 and an MA in 1885.
In January 1884, he became senior mathematics master at Blairlodge School, Stirlingshire; in January 1885, he was appointed mathematical master (later head of mathematics) at King Edward's High School, Birmingham, where he remained until his retirement in March 1920.
Between 1892 and 1931, he wrote nine mathematical textbooks for schools (one as co-author with R. Levett and one with C. H. Richards). covering aspects of plane and solid geometry. trigonometry, algebra, and calculus. However, Davison was best known for his work as a writer on the history of British earthquakes and seismology in general. In his day, he was regarded as one of the principal authorities and his books, The Hereford Earthquake of December 17. 1896(1899); A Study of Recent Earthquakes (1905):
The Origin of Earthquakes (1912); 4 Manual of Seismology (1921);.4 History of British Earthquakes (1924); The Founders of Seismology) (1927); The Japanese Earthquakes of 1923 (1931); and Great Earthquakes (1936) remained useful sources of reference. He also published numerous papers in Nature, the Philosophical Magazine, the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. A constant theme throughout his writing, but particularly emphasized from 1928 onwards, was the identification of periodicity in patterns of earthquake occurrence. This work was summarized in his Studies on the Periodicity of Earthquakes (1938).
Like (Sir) Arthur Schuster [q.v.], Davison was one of the first to apply the analytical technique of Fourier analvsis; and he claimed to find evidence of diurnal, 148- and 29-6-dav lunar effects, in addition to 1-, II-, and 19-year periods. However, later data obtained using very sensitive, continuous, recording techniques offered little evidence in support of periodic seismic effects.
Despite a shy and diffident manner, Davison
was a hard-working and gifted teacher of endless patience. Among his pupils were the last two senior wranglers (A. W. Ibbotson and J. Р. Danieil) before the rank was abolished. In 1895, he became secretary to the British Association seismological committee for the study of earth tremors, and the following year, he and the seismologist John Milne [q.v.], newly returned from his pioneering work in Japan, became joint secretaries of its newly established subcommittee for seismological investigation until Davison retired from this position in 1899. He had become a Sc.D. (Cambridge) in 1896.
In 1886, he married Margaret Blanche, daughter of James Harris, schoolmaster, of Great Chart, Ashford. Kent; they had one son and two daughters. Davison died in Cambridge, where they lived following his retirement, on 28 April 1940.
[Archives of King Edward's High School, Birmingham.
175 176
RICHARD J. HOWARTH
Charles^Davison (1858-1940)
DAVISON, Charles (1858-1940), mathematician and writer on seismology, was born 1 May 1858 in Bishopswearmouth, County Durham, the second son of Edwin Charles Davison, fleet paymaster, Royal Navy, and his wife Elizabeth. Daughter of Joseph L. Spence of Swaytield, Lincolnshire. He went to the College of Physical Science (later Armstrong College), Newcastle upon Tyne (1874-7), and then to Emmanuel College, Cambridge (1877-81), where he became a scholar in 1879. He obtained a BA in mathematics (thirteenth wrangler) in 1881 and an MA in 1885.
In January 1884, he became senior mathematics master at Blairlodge School, Stirlingshire; in January 1885, he was appointed mathematical master (later head of mathematics) at King Edward's High School, Birmingham, where he remained until his retirement in March 1920.
Between 1892 and 1931, he wrote nine mathematical textbooks for schools (one as co-author with R. Levett and one with C. H. Richards). covering aspects of plane and solid geometry. trigonometry, algebra, and calculus. However, Davison was best known for his work as a writer on the history of British earthquakes and seismology in general. In his day, he was regarded as one of the principal authorities and his books, The Hereford Earthquake of December 17. 1896(1899); A Study of Recent Earthquakes (1905):
The Origin of Earthquakes (1912); 4 Manual of Seismology (1921);.4 History of British Earthquakes (1924); The Founders of Seismology) (1927); The Japanese Earthquakes of 1923 (1931); and Great Earthquakes (1936) remained useful sources of reference. He also published numerous papers in Nature, the Philosophical Magazine, the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, and the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. A constant theme throughout his writing, but particularly emphasized from 1928 onwards, was the identification of periodicity in patterns of earthquake occurrence. This work was summarized in his Studies on the Periodicity of Earthquakes (1938).
Like (Sir) Arthur Schuster [q.v.], Davison was one of the first to apply the analytical technique of Fourier analvsis; and he claimed to find evidence of diurnal, 148- and 29-6-dav lunar effects, in addition to 1-, II-, and 19-year periods. However, later data obtained using very sensitive, continuous, recording techniques offered little evidence in support of periodic seismic effects.
Despite a shy and diffident manner, Davison
was a hard-working and gifted teacher of endless patience. Among his pupils were the last two senior wranglers (A. W. Ibbotson and J. Р. Danieil) before the rank was abolished. In 1895, he became secretary to the British Association seismological committee for the study of earth tremors, and the following year, he and the seismologist John Milne [q.v.], newly returned from his pioneering work in Japan, became joint secretaries of its newly established subcommittee for seismological investigation until Davison retired from this position in 1899. He had become a Sc.D. (Cambridge) in 1896.
In 1886, he married Margaret Blanche, daughter of James Harris, schoolmaster, of Great Chart, Ashford. Kent; they had one son and two daughters. Davison died in Cambridge, where they lived following his retirement, on 28 April 1940.
[Archives of King Edward's High School, Birmingham.
175 176
RICHARD J. HOWARTH
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