Best known for his work on plate tectonics, John Tuzo Wilson was the son of a Scottish immigrant and had become the first Canadian to earn a degree in geophysics. Following his service in World War II, he began teaching geophysics. The Wilson Mountains in Antarctica was named after him.
Canadian geologist John William Dawson began his career as the first superintendent of education of Nova Scotia. He also served as the principal of McGill University, where he taught, too. An expert in paleobotany, he discovered ancient plant species. He was knighted for his contribution to geology.
Born to a Scottish baker and real-estate owner in Canada, William Edmond Logan excelled in art and music in childhood. He gained an interest in geology when he began looking after his uncle’s Welsh coalfields. He later established the Geological Survey of Canada. Canada’s highest mountain is named after him.
Henry Youle Hind was a Canadian geologist who was also a noted explorer. Born in England, he moved to Canada and settled there. He led numerous expeditions to explore the Canadian prairies in 1857 and 1858 and helped open up the Canadian Prairies for agriculture settlement. He was named a National Historic Person in 2018.