Andrew Thomson

Andrew Thomson

Andrew Thomson, meteorologist (b at Dobbinton, Ont 18 May 1893; d at Toronto 17 Oct 1974). Following graduation from U of T in 1916, Thomson studied and worked in the US, Samoa, New Zealand and Europe before returning in 1932 to the national meteorological service. He planned Canada's participation in the 1932-33 International Polar Year and was instrumental in establishing the first graduate program in meteorology at U of T. Thomson assisted John Patterson in planning for and administering a program of meteorological services for continental and transatlantic civil aviation in the 1930s and for military aviation during WWII. He led the postwar expansion and development of meteorology in Canada and was one of a small group who reconstructed international meteorology after 1945. As director of the national meteorological service 1946-59 he reorganized and expanded the service for peacetime. He travelled the world as a member of the executive committee of the World Meteorological Organization. A fellow of the RSC, he was created OBE in 1946 and awarded the Patterson Medal in 1965.