William King (GSI) facts for kids

William King FGS (1834? - 1900) was the son of the English born geologist William King who also became a geologist and worked in India with the Geological Survey of India, serving as its director from 1887 to 1894.

King studied civil engineering at Queen's College, Galway and at Queen's University before joining the Geological Survey of India on 4 March 1857. His first work was in southern India with H.F.Blanford. He then worked in central India and surveyed western Chota Nagpur and took over the position of director at Calcutta, succeeding Medlicott in 1887. He was given six extensions from the normal age of retirement at 54 thus retiring at the age of 60 on 16 July 1894 after 37 years of service. He was succeeded by Carl Griesbach as director as the next senior officer T.W.H. Hughes was injured, losing his eyesight and being forced to retire.