Wilson, John Tuzo (1908–1993)

Canadian geologist and geophysicist who established and brought about a general understanding of the concept of plate tectonics.

Born in Ottawa, Wilson studied geology and physics – an original combination that led directly to the development of the science of geophysics – at the University of Toronto, and obtained his doctoral degree at Princeton University, New Jersey, USA. His particular interest was the movement of the continents across the Earth's surface – then a poorly understood and not widely accepted concept known as ‘continental drift’. He spent 28 years as professor of geophysics at the University of Toronto, retiring 1974 just as interest in plate tectonics was developing worldwide. From then on he was the director-general of the Ontario Science Centre and later the chancellor of York University, Toronto, finally retiring 1987. In 1957 he was the president of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics – the most senior administrative post in the field.

Wilson's great strength was in education. He pioneered hands-on interactive museum exhibits, and could explain complex subjects like the movement of continents, the spreading of ocean floors, and the creation of island chains by using astonishingly simple models. He was an active outdoor man, leading expeditions into the remote north of Canada, and he made the first ascent of Mount Hague in Montana, USA, 1935.

The Wilson Range in Antarctica is named after him.