John Patterson

John Patterson

John Patterson, meteorologist (b in Oxford County, Ont 3 Jan 1872; d at Clarkson, Ont 22 Feb 1956). Educated at University of Toronto and Cambridge, Patterson returned to Canada in 1910 after serving in India as professor and imperial meteorologist. He designed a pilot-balloon system for studying the upper air and developed a new anemometer and a new barometer for operational use. In 1929, Patterson succeeded Sir Frederic STUPART as director of the national meteorological service, a position he held until 1946. Under his leadership, the service survived the Depression and expanded tenfold to meet wartime needs, providing meteorological services for the new TRANS-CANADA AIRLINES and for the BRITISH COMMONWEALTH AIR TRAINING PLAN and the Home War units. A fellow of the RSC, he was in 1954 the first recipient of the Patterson Medal for distinguished service to METEOROLOGY.