John Dawson (botanist) explained

John Dawson
Birth Name:John Wyndham Dawson
Birth Date:1 February 1928
Birth Place:Eketāhuna, New Zealand
Death Place:Wellington, New Zealand
Fields:Botany
Workplaces:Victoria University of Wellington
Alma Mater:University of California, Berkeley
Thesis Title:A revision of the genus Anisotome Hook f. (Umbelliferae)
Thesis Url:http://oskicat.berkeley.edu/record=b13111051~S1
Thesis Year:1958

John Wyndham Dawson (1 February 1928 – 11 March 2019) was a New Zealand botanist.

Early life and education

Dawson was born in Eketāhuna on 1 February 1928 to Walter and Winifred Dawson, and was the youngest of 4 sons.[1] [2] He was educated at Eketahuna District High School and Christchurch Boys' High School.[2] He studied at Victoria University College from 1947 to 1952, graduating with a Master of Arts with second-class honours in 1953.[2] [3] He was then awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, and undertook doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley, from where he gained a PhD in January 1958.[2] The title of his thesis was A revision of the genus Anisotome Hook f. (Umbelliferae).[4]

In 1958, Dawson married Judith Macken, and the couple went on to have three children.[2]

Career

In 1957, Dawson was appointed to the faculty of the Department of Botany at Victoria University College (from 1962 known as Victoria University of Wellington), and remained there until his retirement in 1988, having risen to the rank of associate professor.[1] [5] He served as head of the Botany Department between 1984 and 1987.[2] Dawson was a Fellow of the Linnaean Society.

Dawson's research covered the characteristics, relationships and history of New Zealand plants. In particular, he was interested in the Umbelliferae family of alpine plants, and he also studied New Caledonian flora from the family Myrtaceae.[1] After his retirement from Victoria, Dawson continued his botanical research in New Caledonia, he ran extension courses on the native plants of New Zealand, and was a guide at Otari-Wilton's Bush.[6] Dawson's book, New Zealand's Native Trees, co-written with Rob Lucas, was named "Book of the Year" at the 2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards.[6]

Death

Dawson died in Wellington on 11 March 2019.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dawson, John . John Dawson (botanist)

    . John Dawson (botanist) . Forest vines to snow tussocks: the story of New Zealand plants . 16 March 2019 . 1988 . Victoria University Press . Wellington . 0-86473-047-0 . blurb.

  2. Taylor . Alister . Alister Taylor . New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa 2001 . New Zealand Who's Who, Aotearoa . 2001 . Alister Taylor Publishers . Auckland . 1172-9813 . 271.
  3. Web site: NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Da–Do . Shadows of Time . 16 March 2019.
  4. Book: The ninety-fifth commencement . 16 March 2019 . 1958 . University of California . Berkeley . 58.
  5. News: Native trees work takes out top literary award . 2 August 2012 . Stuff.co.nz . 16 March 2019.
  6. Web site: Deluxe edition – New Zealand's native trees . The Women's Bookshop . 16 March 2019.
  7. News: John Dawson death notice . 16 March 2019 . . 16 March 2019.