93
WILLIAM WHITAKER, B.A., F.R.S., F.G.S.
(1836—1925.)
AN OBITUARY.
ON 15th January last, William Whitaker, rich in years and
in the warm affection of all who had the privilege to know
him, passed into the Beyond.
There is no need, nor is this the place, to record the wealth
of happenings which must have befallen this doyen of British
geology during his long life of over 88 years ; other pens, abler
and better informed than the writer's, will perform that office.
Suffice it to mention that he was born on May 4th, 1836,
educated at St. Alban's Grammar School and at University
College, London, and that he served on the Geological Survey for
nearly forty years, on his retirement practising as a consulting
engineer. His various books dealing with water supply are
essential works of reference, crowded with detailed information
on the subject. Indeed, so valuable is this information, that
on the outbreak of the late war, a volume already in the press
was withheld by order of the Government to guard against
the possibility of its falling into enemy hands.
Here we prefer to dwell upon William Whitaker's long asso-
ciation with our Club, which goes back to the very inauguration
of the latter, in the January of 1880, when he, together with
another even greater scientist, Charles Darwin, was elected
an honorary member, a membership which he retained unbroken
until his death 45 years later.
During this entire period Whitaker was a most frequent
attendant at the Club's Meetings, both at the winter meetings
held at Stratford and at the outdoor field meetings
held during the summer and autumn months ; and he was
often asked, and as often consented, to give the Club the benefit
of his unique experience and knowledge by acting as our Con-
ductor when excursions of geological interest were being planned.
So, also, he readily consented to act as our delegate at the
yearly meetings of the British Association, which he almost
invariably attended. His honorary membership was no mere
titular one.
In 1911, in response to urgent solicitations, he qualified
for the Presidentship of our Club by submitting himself for