Robert George Spencer Hudson, 1897-1965

Hudson was born in Rugby and educated at the Lawrence Sheriffe School, Rugby and University College, London where he read geology, 1918-1920. He saw service with the army during the First World War. He was Assistant Lecturer, Lecturer and Professor of Geology, University of Leeds, 1922-1940, Geologist and Palaeontologist with the Iraq Petroleum Company, 1946-1958, and Professor of Geology, Trinity College, Dublin from 1961. Hudson's research interests were Carboniferous palaeontology, stratigraphy and sedimentation in the North of England, especially Yorkshire, and the geology and palaeontology of the Middle East. He was elected FRS in 1961.

The Palaeontological Association developed from the initiative of a group of young palaeontologists who had begun to meet at a Dining Club at the Gardenia Restaurant, London, early in 1955. Hudson was invited to join the group and played an important part in the early organisation and financing of the Association. An interim Committee was formed with Hudson as Chairman, and after a public discussion meeting on 30 January 1956 (also chaired by Hudson), the Inaugural Meeting was held on 27 February 1957. Hudson served as the first President of the Association, 1957-1959.