P000932 revised AU-VU:EOAS Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation

All key entry types: Awards; Concepts; Corporate Bodies (Organisations); Cultural Artefacts; People; etc

These key entries are listed separately below with other indexes and lists.

 English AACR2 Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules Person created 1993-10-20 human Gavan McCarthy; Ken McInnes updated 2026-05-21 human https://www.eoas.info/biogs/P000932b.htm person Chapman Robert William Kt CMG FRAS HonMIEAust AACR2 27 December 1866 27 February 1942 Place of Birth Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, England Place of Death Adelaide, South Australia, Australia Engineer Mathematician Sir Robert Chapman was the first Professor of Engineering at the University of Adelaide from 1907. He was then Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics 1910-1919, and in 1920 returned to the chair of engineering, a position he held until his retirement in 1937. He published two major textbooks: "The Elements of Astronomy for Surveyors" (London, 1919) and "Reinforced Concrete" (Adelaide, 1924) and many other scientific and technical papers. He is commemorated by the Institution of Engineers Australia R.W. Chapman medal and by a prize awarded by the University of Adelaide. His distinguished contribution to engineering, surveying and education was recognised when he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1927; was awarded the Kernot Memorial Medal in 1927 and the Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal in 1928; was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 1937; and was awarded Honorary Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia (HonMIEAust) in 1942. 1876 1876 Life event - Moved to Melbourne 1886 1886 Education - Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Melbourne 1888 Career event - Original [founding] member, Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1888 1888 Education - Bachelor of Civil Engineering (BCE), University of Melbourne 1888 1888 Education - Master of Arts (MA), University of Melbourne 1888 1889 Career position - Contractor, railway construction work 1889 1900 Career position - Assistant lecturer in mathematics and physics, University of Adelaide c. 1900 Career position - Teacher in mathematics, South Australian School of Mines and Industries 1901 1901 Career event - Member (MAusIME), Australasian Institute of Mining Engineers 1901 1907 Career position - Lecturer in engineering, University of Adelaide 1902 Award - Fellow, Royal Astronomical Society, London (FRAS) 1902 1902 Career position - President, Section A (Astronomy, Mathematics and Physics), Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1907 1910 Career position - Professor of Engineering, University of Adelaide 1907 1942 Career event - Fellow, Royal Society of South Australia 1909 1909 Career position - President, Section H (Engineering and Architecture), Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1910 1919 Career position - Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics, University of Adelaide 1913 1919 Career event - Foundation Member, South Australian Institute of Engineers 1914 1922 Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of South Australia 1917 1929 Career position - President, South Australian Institute of Surveyors 1918 1919 Career position - President, South Australian Institute of Engineers 1919 1919 Publication - Book: "The Elements of Astronomy for Surveyors" [republished and revised in more than 8 edition] 1919 1919 Career event - Foundation Associate Member (AMIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1920 1920 Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia 1920 1920 Career position - Chairman, Adelaide Division, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1920 1921 Career position - President, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 1920 1937 Career position - Professor of Engineering, University of Adelaide 1921 Career position - Foundation Councillor (Engineering), Australian National Research Council 1921 1922 Career position - President, Institution of Engineers, Australia 1924 1924 Publication - Book: "Reinforced Concrete", published 1927 1927 Award - Kernot Memorial Medal, for distinguished engineering achievement in Australia. Faculty of Engineering, University of Melbourne 1927 1927 Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) - President - SA Astronomical Society 1928 1928 Award - Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal - Career Achievement Award in Engineering, Institution of Engineers Australia 1928 1928 Career position - President, Section H (Engineering and Architecture), Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science 1937 Career position - Emeritus Professor, University of Adelaide 1937 1937 Life event - Retired 1937 1937 Career event - Fellow, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) 11 May 1937 11 May 1937 Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt) - Professor of Engineering at Adelaide University [King George VI Coronation] 1939 1942 Career position - President of Council, South Australian School of Mines and Industries 1942 1942 Award - Honorary Member (HonMIEAust), Institution of Engineers, Australia - For Engineering education, development of engineering school of University of Adelaide, Councillor (1920-1927) and President (1922) South Australian Institute of Engineers (1913 - 1919)

President, 1918-1919; Foundation member 1913 - ; Editor Proceedings 1916 - 1917. Chapman was a leader in transitioning the Institute, into the Institution of Engineers, Australia

 Kernot Memorial Medal, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Melbourne (1926 - )

Awarded the Medal 1927 "... for teaching and research work at the Adelaide University."

 Peter Nicol Russell Memorial Medal, Institution of Engineers, Australia (1922 - )

Awarded the Medal 1928.

 Institution of Engineers, Australia (1919 - )

Elected Honorary Member 1942; President 1921 - 1922; Councillor 1920 - 1927.

 R. W. Chapman Medal, Institution of Engineers, Australia (1935 - )

Robert William Chapman is commemorated by the R. W. Chapman Medal, awarded annually by the Institution of Engineers Australia since 1935.

 Australian National Research Council (ANRC) (1919 - 1955)

Foundation Member (Engineering) 1921 -

 The University of Adelaide (1874 - 2026)

Professor of Engineering 1901 - 1907 and 1920 - 1937; Professor of Mathematics and Mechanics 1910 - 1919

 Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science (1888 - 1930)

Original [founding] member 1888 - ; President, Section A (Astronomy, Mathematics and Physics) 1902; President, Section H (Engineering and Architecture) 1909 and 1928

 Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (1893 - )

President 1920 - 1921; Member 1901 -

 South Australian School of Mines and Industries (1889 - ?)

President of Council 1939 - 1942

 Royal Society of South Australia (1880 - )

Fellow 1907 - 1942; Member of Council 1914 - 1922.

 Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS) (1930 - )

Fellow 1937 -

Wikidata

VIAF - Virtual International Authority File

 Chapman, R W (1866-1942)

Trove

 'Chapman, Robert William', in Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation, Centre for Transformative Innovation, Swinburne University of Technology Chapman, Robert William Swinburne University of Technology, Centre for Transformative Innovation Encyclopedia of Australian Science and Innovation Journal Article: Kernot Memorial Medal [1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930] Kernot Memorial Medal [1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930] 1931 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 3 8 302 Journal Article: Obituary: Robert William Chapman, 1866-1942 Grant, Kerr and Gartrell, H. W. Obituary: Robert William Chapman, 1866-1942 1942 Australian Journal of Science 5 1 35-36 Journal Article: The construction of Adelaide Bridge (Discussions and communications) Veale, W. C. D. (Chapman, R. W.; Parkhurst, R. W.; Chapman, R. H.; Jenkinson, H. G. The construction of Adelaide Bridge (Discussions and communications) 1932 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 4 11 386-387 Journal Article: First members of institution [Diamond Jubilee feature article] First members of institution [Diamond Jubilee feature article] 1979 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 51 20 69 Journal Article: Twenty-third Annual Report [1942] Institution of Engineers Australia Twenty-third Annual Report [1942] 1943 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia MacLean, E. S. 15 2 35-51 Journal Article: Twenty-second Annual Report [1941] Institution of Engineers Australia Twenty-second Annual Report [1941] 1942 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia MacLean, E. S. 14 2 35-41 Journal: South Australian Institute of Engineers: Biennial proceedings 1916 - 1917 Chapman, R. W. South Australian Institute of Engineers: Biennial proceedings 1916 - 1917 Adelaide South Australian Institute of Engineers 1917 Resource Section: Engineering Heritage : Biographies Engineering Heritage : Biographies Engineering Heritage Australia 2024 Engineering Heritage Australia : wiki website Journal Article: Ninth Annual General Meeting [March 1929] and Ninth Annual Report [1928] Institution of Engineers Australia Ninth Annual General Meeting [March 1929] and Ninth Annual Report [1928] 1929 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia MacLean, E. S. 1 5 197-201 Resource Section: Chapman, Robert William Chapman, Robert William Australian Science Archives Project 1995 Physics in Australia to 1945 R.W. Home, with the assistance of Paula J. Needham Journal Article: Stress in cohesive material and earth pressure (Discussions and communications) Hawken, R. W. H. (Chapman, R. W.; Burn, A.; Feld, Jacob; Backstrom, S. I.; Ross, C. N.; Kernot, M. E.) Stress in cohesive material and earth pressure (Discussions and communications) Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1926 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 311-325 Journal Article: The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William; Cockburn, Robert Forbes (Stanley, M. S.) The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 9 302-303 Journal Article: Concrete control as used at the Mount Bold Dam, South Australia (Discussions and communications) Johnson, Christopher George Frederick; Campbell, Archibald Hector (Eaton, J. H. O.; East, L. R.; Robertson, W. A.; Chapman. R. W.; Blakey, O. F.; Kneeshaw, F. P.; Shaw, E. D.) Concrete control as used at the Mount Bold Dam, South Australia (Discussions and communications) 1937 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 9 9 353-355 Journal Article: Mount Bold Storage. Adelaide metropolitan water supply (Discussions and communications) Eaton, John Henry Osborn; Farrent, T. A.; Chapman, R. W.; Jenkinson, H. G.; Robin, R. C.; Clark, E. V.; Chapman, R. H.; Brookman, J. K.; Veale, W. C. D. Mount Bold Storage. Adelaide metropolitan water supply (Discussions and communications) 1933 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 5 6 192 Journal Article: Abstracts of proceedings of Divisions, 1920. Abstracts of proceedings of Divisions, 1920. 1920 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 1 151-161 Journal Article: The effect of the addition of finely ground inert material to concrete (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William; Olsen, Paul Engberg (Wigg, R. M.; Turnball, J. MacN.; Poole, G. G.; Johnson, C. G. F.; Gawith, A. H.; Loxton, H. T.; Burgess, J. H.) The effect of the addition of finely ground inert material to concrete (Discussions and communications) 1939 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 11 11 383-388 Book Section: Chapman, Sir Robert William (1866-1942), engineer Bridgland, R. J. Chapman, Sir Robert William (1866-1942), engineer Melbourne Melbourne University Press 1979 Australian dictionary of biography, volume 7: 1891 - 1939 A-Ch Bede Nairn and Geoffrey Serle 613-615 Journal Article: The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William; Cockburn, Robert Forbes (Stanley, M. S.) The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 5 162-164 Journal Article: The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William; Cockburn, Robert Forbes (Stanley, M. S.) The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 6 200-202 Journal Article: The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William; Cockburn, Robert Forbes (Stanley, M. S.; Jenkinson, H. G.; Wigg, R. M.; Melbourne, H. E. S.) The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement (Discussions and communications) 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 4 129-130 Journal Article: The stresses in the floors of elevated cylindrical tanks (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William; Gibb, Claude Dixon (Jenkinson, H. G.; Stanley, M. S.; Shepley, A. R.; Rogers, F. S.; Smith, B. A.) The stresses in the floors of elevated cylindrical tanks (Discussions and communications) Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1923 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 4 227-240 Journal Article: Mount Bold Storage. Adelaide metropolitan water supply (Discussions and communications) Eaton, John Henry Osborn; Farrent, T. A.; Chapman, R. W.; Jenkinson, H. G.; Robin, R. C.; Brookman, J. R. Mount Bold Storage. Adelaide metropolitan water supply (Discussions and communications) 1933 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 5 3 120-121 Journal Article: The strength of rectangular concrete slabs Chapman, Robert William The strength of rectangular concrete slabs Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1929 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 8 255-282 Journal Article: New form of extensometer Chapman, R. W. New form of extensometer 1925 Quarterly Bulletin, Institution of Engineers, Australia 2 8 23-26 Journal Article: The lightest beams of Australian hardwoods to carry various loads Chapman, R. W. The lightest beams of Australian hardwoods to carry various loads 1918 Commonwealth Engineer 5 9 260 Journal Article: The hardening of steel by overstrain Chapman, R. W. The hardening of steel by overstrain 1921 Commonwealth Engineer 9 3 74 Journal Article: The past work of the Royal Society outside the domain of Natural Science. Chapman, R. W. The past work of the Royal Society outside the domain of Natural Science. 1936 Transactions and proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia 60 xxv-xxx Book: The elements of astronomy for surveyors Chapman, R. W. The elements of astronomy for surveyors London Charles Griffin & Company 1919 Book: Reinforced concrete Chapman, R. W. Reinforced concrete Adelaide The Builder Publishing Co 1924 Journal Article: Concrete footings for columns Chapman, Robert William Concrete footings for columns Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1923 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 2 147-153 Journal Article: The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement Chapman, Robert William; Cockburn, Robert Forbes The shrinkage of mortars made from Australian Portland Cement 1934 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 6 2 37-40 Journal Article: Concrete footings for columns (Discussions and communications) Chapman, Robert William Concrete footings for columns (Discussions and communications) Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1921 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 2 285 Journal Article: The growth of the use of the scientific method in structural design Chapman, R. W. The growth of the use of the scientific method in structural design 1938 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 10 5 165-175 Journal Article: The effect of the addition of finely ground inert material to concrete Chapman, Robert William; Olsen, Paul Engberg The effect of the addition of finely ground inert material to concrete 1939 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 11 8 263-278 Journal Article: Presidential address [1923] Chapman, Robert William Presidential address [1923] Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1924 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 3 lxiii-lxxix Journal Article: Principle of least work Chapman, R. W. Principle of least work 1933 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 5 7 237-238 Journal Article: New machine for experiments in torsion Chapman, R. W. New machine for experiments in torsion 1925 Quarterly Bulletin, Institution of Engineers, Australia 2 5 21-23 Journal Article: Maxwell's reciprocal theorem Chapman, R. W. Maxwell's reciprocal theorem 1935 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 7 1 33-34 Journal Article: The effect of moisture on concrete Chapman, R. W. The effect of moisture on concrete 1931 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 3 1 40 Journal Article: Eccentric footings of columns Chapman, R. W. Eccentric footings of columns 1927 Quarterly Bulletin, Institution of Engineers, Australia 4 50- Journal Article: The stresses in the floors of elevated cylindrical tanks Chapman, Robert William; Gibb, Claude Dixon The stresses in the floors of elevated cylindrical tanks Sydney, NSW Institution of Engineers Australia 1925 Transactions of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 4 33-54 Journal Article: Tables for the setting-out of transition curves of all lengths Chapman, R. W. Tables for the setting-out of transition curves of all lengths 1917 South Australian Institute of Engineers: Biennial proceedings 1916 - 1917 151-166 Newspaper Article: Honours List [Coronation Awards - South Australia] Honours List [Coronation Awards - South Australia] 1937 Sydney Morning Herald 12 Journal Article: The Late Sir Robert Chapman, Kt.Bach. The Late Sir Robert Chapman, Kt.Bach. 1942 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 14 4 101-3 Edited Book: They built South Australia : engineers, technicians, manufacturers, contractors and their work Cumming, D. A.; Moxham, G. C. They built South Australia : engineers, technicians, manufacturers, contractors and their work Adelaide D.A. Cumming and G.C Moxham 1986 Book: Mining people - a century : Highlights of the first hundred years of the AusIMM 1893-1993 Dew, John M. Mining people - a century : Highlights of the first hundred years of the AusIMM 1893-1993 Parkville, Victoria Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 1993 Journal Article: P. N. Russell Memorial Medal [List of recipients 1923 - 1931] P. N. Russell Memorial Medal [List of recipients 1923 - 1931] 1931 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 3 12 445 Journal Article: P.N.R. Memorial Medal - 1941 Award [R. J. Boyd, M.E., M.I.E.Aust.] P.N.R. Memorial Medal - 1941 Award [R. J. Boyd, M.E., M.I.E.Aust.] 1941 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 13 12 295 Journal Article: A century of engineering in South Australia (Discussions and communications) Eaton, J. H. O. (Hill, T.; Chapman, R. W.) A century of engineering in South Australia (Discussions and communications) 1937 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 9 10 405-406 Journal Article: Cement concrete and pins for porcelain insulators (Discussions and communications) Stobie, J. C. (Chapman, R. W.; Cameron, A. R.; Atkins, L. M.; Clark, H. R.) Cement concrete and pins for porcelain insulators (Discussions and communications) 1936 Journal of the Institution of Engineers, Australia 8 11 438-439 Robert William Chapman - Records Barr Smith Library, Special Collections, The University of Adelaide Robert William Chapman - Records 1907 - 1942 Correspondence, council minutes and other official university records c1907-42. Robert William Chapman - Records Institute of Surveyors, Australia - South Australian Division Robert William Chapman - Records 1907 - 1940 Records c1907-40. Robert William Chapman - Records Astronomical Society of South Australia Robert William Chapman - Records 1907 - 1940 Records c1900-40.