Biographical entry Williams, William Thomas (1913 - 1995)

Summary

William Thomas Williams held many positions in the United Kingdom including Professor of Botany at the University of Southampton from 1951 to 1965. He then moved to Australia to join the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Computing Research 1966-68, and later the Division of Tropical Pastures 1968-73. Williams was a leading authority on the use of numerical methods for classifying biological data. After his retirement he worked as a consultant to James Cook University of North Queensland, Davies Laboratory (CSIRO) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville. He was also a qualified piano teacher.

Details

Events

1933

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London

1933 - 1936

Career position - Taught at Imperial College

1936 - 1940

Career position - Teacher at Sir John Cass Technical College

1940

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) completed at the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London

1940

Education - Diploma of Imperial College (DIC) completed

1941 - 1946

Career position - Military service with the Royal Artillery (Sergeant), Royal Army Ordnance Corps (Second Lieutenant) and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (Major)

1946 - 1951

Career position - Lecturer at Bedford College for Women

1951 - 1956

Career position - Professor of Botany and Head of the Department of Botany at the University of Southampton

1956

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the Imperial College of Science and Technology in London

1966 - 1968

Career position - Senior Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Computing Research

1968 - 1973

Career position - Senior Principal Research Scientist at the CSIRO Division of Tropical Pastures

1978 -

Award - Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

Related entries

Published resources

Book Sections

• Burt, R. L.; Williams, W. T., 'Plant Introduction in Australia', in R. W. Home (ed.), Australian Science in the Making, Cambridge University Press, Sydney, 1988, pp. 252-276. Details

Journal Articles

• Clifford, H. Trevor, 'William Thomas Williams 1913-1995', Historical Records of Australian Science, vol. 12, no. 1, Australian Academy of Science, 1998, pp. 99-118. Also available at http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9981210099.htm. Details

Online Resources

• National Library of Australia, 'Williams, W T', Trove, National Library of Australia and the Australian National Maritime Museum Darling Harbour, 2009, http://nla.gov.au/nla.party-514054. Details