More on George M. Dawson (1849-1901)

George Dawson (standing at center) and his survey party, Fort McLeod, British Columbia, 1879
Source

When George Dawson was a child he had a severe illness that stopped his growth. As an adult he was only around 4 feet 8 inches or 4 feet 10 inches tall. The illness also left him with a hunched back and recurring pain throughout his body. This did not stop him. He received an advanced education from Britain's leading scientists and in the 1870s worked on the Canada-United States boundary survey. He described the geology and natural history he observed in great detail. He then went to work for the Geological Survey of Canada and explored British Columbia and the Yukon. After working as assistant director for 12 years, he replaced Alfred Selwyn as director. Dawson was one of the most popular figures in Canadian science. His early death, at age 52, came as a shock and disappointment both at home and abroad.