John Patterson | The Canadian Encyclopedia

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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.

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.