Facts and fancies in modern science

John William Sir Dawson was a preeminent Canadian geologist and a towering figure in the scientific community of the 19th century. Born on October 13, 1820, in Pictou, Nova Scotia, Dawson became known for his pioneering work in paleobotany, the study of fossil plants, as well as his explorations of Earth's ancient history. He served as the first principal of McGill University from 1855 to 1893, wh...