Albert Kitson
Sir Albert Ernest Kitson | |
---|---|
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, University of Melbourne | |
Spouses | Mary Legge, née Walker
(m. 1910–1920)Elinore Almond Ramage
(m. 1927–1937) |
Awards |
|
Scientific career | |
Fields | Geology and natural history |
Institutions | Geological Survey of Victoria, Australia |
Sir Albert Ernest Kitson,
Early life
Kitson was born in North Street,
Career
Albert Kitson joined the Public Service in Victoria in 1886 as a clerk. Whilst still employed in this function he also carried out geological field work. This fired a passion and encouraged him to take up part-time studies in geology at the Working Men's College (now the
After his initial work in Victoria, Kitson spent much of his subsequent professional life in Africa. Recognising his geological talents Professor
Although Kitson's mission was to discover mineral deposits which might be exploited by the British colonial authority he always combined this with a paternalistic concern to improve the material situation of the local populations. In 1912, after hearing a lecture by J. P. Unstead about the climatic conditions for wheat cultivation in North America, Kitson's response was to ask whether Unstead's findings might be applied to Nigeria. Kitson argued: "Could a wheat-growing industry be established it would be a great boon to the people of West Africa." In paternalistic tones he went on: "It might in Northern Nigeria replace to a large extent the less valuable millet now grown there, while in Southern Nigeria it could materially supplement the staple foods- cassava, yams and maize".[10]
After Nigeria, Kitson continued his explorations in Africa, along with
Kitson is also associated with the development of hydro-electric power in the Gold Coast/Ghana.[19] In 1915 he was the first to recommend building a dam at Akosombo on the Volta River to generate hydro-electricity,[20] hoping to use this to process the bauxite deposits that he had discovered in the Kwahu plateau the previous year. It was not until 1965 that the idea of the dam was put into effect when Ghana's first black president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, decided to generate hydropower as a means of modernizing the economy.[21] This development created Lake Volta, the largest man-made lake in the world.[22]
Late life
After his retirement from the Gold Coast in 1930 Kitson moved to
Numerous honours came Kitson's way in recognition of his work. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1918 and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1922. In 1927 Kitson was
For his obituary the journal Nature wrote: "SIR ALBERT KITSON, whose death occurred on 8 March, was a geologist of world-wide repute, and the discoveries which he made and which are now being exploited in many parts of the world entitle him to be classed as one of the foremost economic geologists of his time."[32]
From his earliest age, Kitson took an interest in the natural world around him. Throughout his career he collected
Nicknamed "Kittie", Kitson was a very religious serious-minded man and a teetotaller. He was quite strict as J. N. F. Green makes clear: "Lifelong self-discipline gave Kitson exceptional powers of endurance and concentration in difficult and trying conditions. Somewhat of a driver in the field, he never spared himself, taking the heaviest burden."
In 1910 he married Margaret Legge, née Walker (1870–1920). After her death he married Elinore Almond Ramage (1892–1963) in 1927. Like his mother she was the daughter of a Scottish Presbyterian minister, although she herself was born in
Sir Albert Kitson is sometimes wrongly referred to as Sir Arthur Kitson or Sir Alfred Kitson. He is also sometimes confused with his contemporary
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538.
- ^ "Towns - Benalla descriptions". Archived from the original on 12 March 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
- ^ [1] Euclid:Eucalyptus kitsoniana http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org:8080/euclid/data/02050e02-0108-490e-8900-0e0601070d00/media/Html/Eucalyptus_kitsoniana.htm
- ^ A.E. Kitson, 'Proposed reservation of limestone caves in the Buchan District, Eastern Gippland', Rec. geol. Surv. Vict., II(I), 1907, pp. 37–44. See also [2] as well as Brian Finlayson & Elery Hamilton-Smith, Beneath the Surface: A Natural History of Australian Caves, University of New South Wales Press, 2003, p. 166.
- ^ a b John Frederick Norman Green, 'Obituary: Albert Ernest Kitson', Geological Society, Quarterly Journal, no. 94, 1938, p. CXXVI
- ^ NATIONAL ARCHIVES ENUGU, Series number, File number CSO.29/1900-8/3/5, 'Mineral Survey Progress Report by M.A.E. Kitson, 1908'
- ^ Obituary notices of Fellows of the Royal Society, Number 19, November 1950, Volume 7, p. 74.
- ^ Nigerians-Abroad – South-East – Feature: The changing face of Enugu
- ^ Maria Sophia Steyn, "Oil politics in Ecuador and Nigeria: a perspective from environmental history on the struggles between ethnic minority groups, multinational oil companies and national governments", Doctoral Thesis (History), University of the Free State Bloemfontein, South Africa, 2003, pp. 147–148.
- ^ A. E. Kitson in response to J. F. Unstead, "The climatic limits of wheat cultivation, with special reference to North America", The Geographical Journal, Vol. XXXIX, No. 5, May 1912, p. 443.
- ^ "A Special Correspondent", "The Volta River Project", African Affairs, Vol. 55, No. 221 (October 1956), pp. 287–293. See also Emmanuel Kwaku Akyeampong, Between the Sea and the Lagoon, James Currey, 2002, p. 164, which reveals that Kitson discovered extensive bauxite deposits on Mount Ejuanema in Kwahu. "The Aluminium Industry in Ghana". Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2010..
- ^ ""Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Aluminium Industry in Ghana – Aluworks Limited".
- ^ African Affairs – Sign In Page
- ^ N. R. Junner & F. A. Bannister, The Diamond Deposits of the Gold Coast with Notes on Other Diamond Deposits in West Africa, GCGS, Gold Coast, 1943.
- ^ J. W. Gregory, 'Survey of India General Report, 1924–1925', The Geographical Journal, Vol. 69, No. 2 (February 1927), p. 148. See also Eric Bruton, Diamentes,Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona, 1983.
- ^ A. E. Kitson, Report on the Discovery of Diamonds at Abomosa, Northwest of Kibbi, Eastern Province, Gold Coast, Govt. Press, Accra, Gold Coast, 1919.
- ^ "Reviews of books on Africa", African Affairs, Volume 43, Issue 170, 1 January 1944, p. 46.
- ^ William M Adams, Green Development: Environment and Sustainability in the Third World, 2001, p. 320; James Pickett, Hans Wolfgang Singer, Robert Kweku Atta Gardiner (eds), Towards economic recovery in sub-Saharan Africa, London: Routledge, 1990, p. 66; Pierre Cappelaere, Ghana, les chemins de la démocratie, Paris, 2007, p. 182; Philip Briggs, Ghana, Bradt Travel Guide, 4th edition, 2007, p. 245; Dominique Auzias (et al), Le Petit Futé Ghana, Paris, 2008, p. 127; see also: http://www.beg.utexas.edu/energyecon/IDA/USAID/RC/Guide_to_Electric%20Power_in_Ghana.pdf Archived 17 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine. See also "The Statesman : News : The False Ghanaian History of Paa Kwesi Nduom". Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- ^ African Affairs – Sign In Page
- ^ "The History - Volta River Authority". Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2007..
- ^ [3] https://www.modernghana.com/news/254075/1/the-under-told-story-of-akosombo-the-gbedemah-fact.html
- ^ Priscilla M. Shilaro, "A Failed Eldorado: British Trusteeship, Luyia Land Rights and the Kakamega Gold Rush, 1930–1952", PHD (History), University of West Virginia, 2000, pp 154–6 & 180–186; see also: H. W. Tilman and Jim Perrin, H. W. Tilman: The Seven Mountain-Travel Books, 2004, p 71. See also: Marjorie R. Dilley, British Policy in Kenya Colony, London: Frank Cass, 1966, p. 265.
- ^ a b John Frederick Norman Green, 'Obituary: Albert Ernest Kitson', Geological Society, Quarterly Journal, no. 94, 1938, p. CXXVII.
- ^ a b The Spectator, 12 December 1932.
- ^ Priscilla M. Shilaro, 'A Failed Eldorado: British Trusteeship, Luyia Land Rights and the Kakamega Gold Rush, 1930–1952', PHD (History), University of West Virginia, 2000, pp 180–182.
- ^ "Kitson, Albert Ernest (Sir) (1868 - 1937)", Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria.
- ^ http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/pictoria/a/0/6/doc/a06831.shtml Archived 29 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine. See also Elery Hamilton-Smith & Brian Finlayson, Beneath the surface, a natural history of Australian caves, Sydney: University of NSW Press, 2003, p. 166.
- ^ Stan Kelly, George McCartney Chippendale, R. D. Johnston, Eucalypts, Nelson 1969, page 42. N. Hall, Botanists of the Eucalypts: Short Biographies of People who Have Named Eucalypts, Whose Names Have Been Given to Species Or who Have Collected Type Material, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 1977, pp. 79–80.
- ^ "Panaspis togoensis".
- ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5("Kitson", p. 142).
- ^ Nature, 139, (3 April 1937) pp 576–577. For online version see: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v139/n3518/abs/139576a0.html
- ^ A. E. Kitson, 'Notes on the Victoria Lyre-Bird'. Smithsonian Institution, Annual Report, 1906, 363–374.
- ^ A. E. Kitson, 'The Gold Coast', The Geographical Journal, vol. XLVIII, no. 5, November 1916. See also "Photographs by Gordon Guggisberg". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ Peter Robertshaw, A History of African archaeology, London: James Currey Publisher, 1990, p. 138.
- ^ L. J. Spencer, "Biographical notes of mineralogists recently deceased", The Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, no. 165, June 1939, Vol. XXV.
- ^ Proceedings of the Geological Society, Volume LXXXIII, p. XLVI.
Sources
- The Times, 9 March 1937;
- Proceedings of the Geological Society, Vol. LXXXIII, 1927, pp. XLVI- XLVII;
- John Frederick Norman Green, "Obituary: Albert Ernest Kitson", Quarterly Journal, Geological Society no. 94, 1938, pp. CXXV—CXXVII;
- L. J. Spencer, 'Biographical notes of mineralogists recently deceased', The Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, no 165, June 1939, Vol. XXV;
- John M. Saul, Arthur J. Boucot, Robert M. Finks, "Fauna of the Accraian Series (Devonian of Ghana) including a Revision of the Gastropod Plectonotus", Journal of Paleontology, Vol. 37, No. 5 (September 1963), pp. 1042–1053;
- N. R. Junner & F. A. Bannister, The Diamond Deposits of the Gold Coast with Notes on Other Diamond Deposits in West Africa, GCGS, Gold Coast, 1943;
- H. Service & J. A. Dunn, The Geology of the Nsuta Manganese Ore Deposits, GCGS, Kensington printer, 1943; "A Special Correspondent", "The Volta River Project", African Affairs, Vol. 55, No. 221 (October 1956), pp. 287–293;
- Ann Brower Stahl, "Innovation, diffusion, and culture contact: The holocene archaeology of Ghana", Journal of World Prehistory, Volume 8, Number 1, March 1994, pp. 51–112.
Kitson's publications include
- A. E. Kitson, "The Gold Coast", The Geographical Journal, vol XLVIII, no 5, November 1916, pp. 369–392;
- A. E. Kitson, "Proposed reservation of limestone caves in the Buchan District, Eastern Gippland", Rec. geol. Surv. Vict., 1907, II(I) :37–44;
- Leonard Darwin, Tempest Anderson, A. E. Kitson, E. O. Thiele, 'Some New Zealand Volcanoes: Discussion', The Geographical Journal, Vol. 40, No. 1 (July 1912), pp. 23–25;
- Major Darwin, Walter Egerton, Dr. Falconer & A. E. Kitson, "Southern Nigeria: Some Considerations of Its Structure, People, and Natural History: Discussion", The Geographical Journal, Vol. 41, No. 1 (Jan. 1913), pp. 34–38;
- A. E. Kitson, "The Economic Minerals and Rocks of Victoria", Department of Mines, Special Report, Melbourne; J. Kemp, Acting Government Printer; 1906. pp. 517–536;
- Percy Cox, K. S. Sandford, Vaughan Cornish, L. J. Spencer, Albert E. Kitson, R. A. Bagnold, "The Movement of Desert Sand: Discussion", The Geographical Journal, Vol. 85, No. 4 (April 1935), pp. 365–369;
- A. Kitson, "First Report on Kakamega Goldfield, Kenya", Mining Journal, London, 12 November 1932, pp. 757–8;
- A. E. Kitson, "Notes on the Victoria Lyre-Bird". Smithsonian Institution, Annual Report, 1906, 363–374;
- Percy Cox, H. H. Austin, Albert E. Kitson, W. Campbell Smith, E. B. Worthington, 'Teleki's Volcano and the Lava Fields at the Southern End of Lake Rudolf: Discussion",The Geographical Journal, Vol. 85, No. 4 (April 1935), pp. 336–341
- Prof. Myres, R. H. Curtis, W. P. Rutter, J. Wrigley, A. E. Kitson, J. F. Unstead, "The Climatic Limits of Wheat Cultivation, with Special Reference to North America: Discussion', The Geographical Journal, Vol. 39, No. 5 (May 1912), pp. 441–446
- A. E. Kitson, "The possibility of Bui Gorge as the site of hydro-electric station". Gold Coast. Geological Survey Bulletin No. 1. Accra, Gold Coast, 1925;
- Albert Kitson, Memorandum On the Operations of the Geological Survey Department of the Gold Coast, 1913–30. Gold Coast, No. XXII of 1930–31. Accra: Printed by the Government Printer at the Government Printing Office, 1930;
- A. E. Kitson, "Observations on the geology of Mount Mary and the lower Werribee Valley". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 14, 1902 pp. 153–165;
- John Dennant, & A. E. Kitson, "Catalogue of the described species of fossils (except Bryozoa and Foraminifera) in the Cainozoic fauna of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania". Records of the Geological Survey of Victoria 1, 1903, pp. 89–147;
- A. E. Kitson, Report on the Discovery of Diamonds at Abomosa, Northwest of Kibbi, Eastern Province, Gold Coast, Govt. Press, Accra, Gold Coast, 1919;
- A. E. Kitson & E. O.Thiele, "The Geography of the Upper Waitaki Basin, New Zealand", Geographical Journal, vol. 36, 1910, p. 431.
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20070317210951/http://www.beg.utexas.edu/energyecon/IDA/USAID/RC/Guide_to_Electric%20Power_in_Ghana.pdf
- Yonatan Girmay, "Assessing the Environmental Impacts of a Hydropower Project: The case of Akosombo/Kpong Dams in Ghana". Master of Science Thesis, Stockholm, Sweden, 2006
- History of Akosombo dam at www.ghanaweb.com
- The History – Volta River Authority at www.vra.com
- M. Andreini, N. van de Giesen, A. van Edig, M. Fosu, W. Andah, "Volta Basin Water Balance", No. 21, ZEF – Discussion Papers on Development Policy Bonn, March 2000.
- More about Kete Krachi at pacodepgh.org
- PN6 pdf.
- Ghana-VALCO Negotiations at www.ghanaweb.com
- Search the Heritage Register and Inventory at www.heritage.vic.gov.au
- http://www.nigerians-abroad.com/news/states/southeast/feature-the-changing-face-of-enugu/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20070627170128/http://www.afriore.com/projects/kenya/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110707173752/http://www.loyokezie.com/tag/badagry-golf-course/
- Kitson, Sir Albert Ernest (1868–1937) Biographical Entry – Australian Dictionary of Biography Online at www.adb.online.anu.edu.au
- http://www.modernghana.com/news/201650/1/the-evolution-of-the-ghana-chamber-of-mines-from-1.html