NICHOLSON, ALEXANDER JOHN (1895-1969), entomologist, was born on 25 March 1895
at Blackhall, near Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland, second of four children of
Alexander Nicholson, draughtsman, and his wife Agnes Hannah, née Smith. The family
moved to Birmingham, England, where in 1908 John entered Waverley Road Secondary
School and joined the Birmingham Field Naturalists' Club. He graduated from the
University of Birmingham (B.Sc., 1915; M.Sc., 1920) with first-class honours in
zoology. Commissioned on 3 November 1915 in the Royal Field Artillery, he served
in France and Belgium with the Royal Regiment of Artillery; he was twice mentioned
in dispatches and received King George V's commendation for bravery.
View the full record at
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Alexander John Nicholson was one of Australia's top Entomologists and greatly increased the knowledge and study of Zoology and Entomology in Australia. His longest serving position was as Chief of the Division of Economic Entomology at CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research)/CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) from 1936 to 1960. During this time Nicholson improved the Division's reputation and research scope to include biological control, taxonomy, ecology, physiology, biochemistry and toxicology. Nicholson's main area of expertise was in insect population dynamics and biology, but he was also a fine designer of scientific equipment and a fastidious organiser. He was a member and office bearer of many of Australia's and Britain's top scientific bodies and published widely. He received many accolades for his tireless work including an appointment to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
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1915
Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc) completed at the University of Birmingham, UK
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1915 - c. 1919
Career position - War service with the Royal Regiment of Artillery in France and Belgium
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1919 - c. 1921
Career position - Researcher at the University of Birmingham
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1920
Education - Master of Science (MSc) completed at the University of Birmingham
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1921 -
Career position - Inaugural McCaughey Lecturer in Entomology at the University of Sydney
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October 1921
Life event - Migrated to Australia (Sydney)
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1928 - 1930
Career position - Councillor of the Linnean Society of New South Wales
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1929
Education - Doctor of Science (DSc) received from the University of Sydney
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1930 - 1933
Career position - Deputy-Chief of the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) Division of Economic Entomology
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1933
Career position - 'The Balance of Animal Populations' published in the Journal of Animal Ecology
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1933 - 1936
Career position - Acting-Chief of the CSIR Division of Economic Entomology
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1935 -
Career position - Foundation member of the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science
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1936 - 1960
Career position - Chief of the CSIR / CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) Division of Economic Entomology
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1950 - 1951
Career position - President of the Royal Society of Australia
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1952
Award - Clarke Medal received from the Royal Society of New South Wales
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1954
Award - Foundation Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
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1960 -
Career position - Foundation President of the National Parks Association of the Australian Capital Territory
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1961 -
Award - Honorary Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society of London (FRES)
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1961
Award - Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
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1963 -
Award - Honorary member of the British Ecological Society
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1965 -
Career position - Foundation member of the Australian Entomological Society
View the full record at
Encyclopedia of Australian Science
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