Ernest Clayton Andrews

Ernest Clayton Andrews BA, FRS (18 October 1870 – 1 July 1948), commonly referred to as E. C. Andrews, was an Australian geologist and botanist.

Early life and education

Andrews was born in Balmain, New South Wales, second child of noted artist Fearnleigh Leonard Montague,[1] and his wife Alice Maud Montague, née Smith.[2] At three years of age, he and his sister Marie Louisa Andrews (died 1952),[3] were unofficially adopted by Wesleyan Methodist lay preacher and teacher John Andrews and his wife Mary Ann, née Bennett of Rockdale in the St George area of Sydney.[2] Andrews, with other children, was educated by his adoptive father in a small schoolhouse behind the Wesleyan church on Bay Street, Rockdale,[3] and from around age seven was expected to teach the smaller children.[2] At age 16 he became a pupil-teacher at Hurstville, and qualified to enter the Sydney Teachers' College and study at the University of Sydney. In his second year he achieved first-class honours in Mathematics and Geology, and won Professor David's prize for geology;[4] graduating (B.A., 1894) with second-class honours in mathematics.[5] He was appointed teacher with the Department of Public Instruction, and taught for four years at Milltown, a suburb of Bathurst,[2] where he was involved in competitive cycling[6] and chess.[7]

Geology career

At the University, he was influenced by the professor of geology, Edgeworth David, who later chose him for geological expeditions to Fiji and Tonga. In 1898, while still teaching at Bathust, Andrews' first geological paper, The Geology of the Cow Flat District, near Bathurst was read in Sydney, by Prof. David, to the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.[8] A few months later he embarked on Professor David's field trip to Fiji, intended to investigate some findings of the American Professor Alexander Agassiz.[9] In 1901 with biologist Charles Hedley he examined the Queensland coast and Great Barrier Reef.

In July 1899 he was appointed geological surveyor with the Department of Mines and Agriculture,[10] and around early 1909 Government Geologist.

In 1908, at the invitation of the eminent geologist Grove Karl Gilbert, Andrews went to the United States of America, where he hiked and climbed with Gilbert in the Californian Sierra Nevada range. Andrews made the first ascent of Mt. Darwin, elevation 13,837 feet, and its difficult summit pinnacle.

Andrews wrote three important papers on the theory of erosion, including Corrasion by gravity streams. Later he was taught field biology and published papers on Myrtaceae and Leguminosae.

He retired in 1930 to concentrate on research and writing.[11]

Recognition

Andrews was

The Australian eucalypt Eucalyptus andrewsii was named for him

Some publications

  • Andrews, E. C.; Souter, D. H. (1905), An introduction to the physical geography of New South Wales, William Brooks & Co, retrieved 27 February 2019
  • Andrews, E. C. (1939), The increasing purpose, Angus & Robertson, retrieved 27 February 2019
  • Andrews, E. C. (1948), The eternal goodness, pub. E.C. Andrews, retrieved 27 February 2019
  • Andrews, E. C. (23 February 1951). "Forbes Jubilee Celebrations; Discovery of Gold". The Forbes Advocate. Vol. 40, no. 16. NSW. p. 3. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.

Personal

Andrews died at his home in Bondi, Sydney on 1 July 1948 and was cremated. He was survived by his second wife, Mabel Agnes (née Smith) and his unmarried sister, Mary Louisa Andrews.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ "Fearnleigh L. Montague". Design & Art Australia Online. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d G. P. Walsh (1979). Australian Dictionary of Biography: Andrews, Ernest Clayton (1870 - 1948). Vol. 7. MUP. pp. 67–69. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Old Resident's Death". The Propeller. Vol. XLII, no. 2171. New South Wales, Australia. 6 November 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "University of Sydney". The Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser. Vol. L, no. 7016. New South Wales, Australia. 11 April 1893. p. 5. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "University of Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. No. 4598. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1894. p. 3. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "League of Wheelmen". The National Advocate. Vol. 8, no. 200. New South Wales, Australia. 14 July 1897. p. 2. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Chess News". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 5688. New South Wales, Australia. 11 September 1897. p. 13. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Advancement of Science". The Australian Star. No. 3102. New South Wales, Australia. 13 January 1898. p. 3. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "A Successful Young Geologist". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). No. 5913. New South Wales, Australia. 31 May 1898. p. 7. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Public Service Gazette". The Evening News (Sydney). No. 10, 024. New South Wales, Australia. 24 July 1899. p. 7. Retrieved 27 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ a b c d "At 76 he took a Science Prize". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. VIII, no. 4. New South Wales, Australia. 8 December 1946. p. 31. Retrieved 26 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Family Notices". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 2 July 1948. p. 14. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  13. ^ "Scientist's Death". Propeller (Hurstville, NSW : 1911 - 1954). 8 July 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
Awards
Preceded by Clarke Medal
1928
Succeeded by