Hobbs, William Herbert, 1864-1952

Professor of geology at University of Michigan and chairman of the Ann Arbor, Michigan, branch of the National Security League during World War I.

Professor of geology at the University of Michigan.

William Herbert Hobbs served as a professor of geology and director of the geology laboratory at the University of Michigan from 1906 to 1934. Born in Worchester, Massachusetts on July 2, 1864, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Worchester Polytechnical Institute in 1883. He completed both master's and doctoral degrees at Johns Hopkins University. Before coming to Michigan, he served as curator of the geology museum and professor of mineralogy, metallurgy, and petrology at the University of Wisconsin.

Widely known for scientific expeditions to Greenland and worldwide geological research, he was also politically active, serving as chairman of the Ann Arbor branch of the National Security League during World War I. Many land formations have been named after Hobbs by explorer friends, including a mountain, several glaciers, and a strip of coastline in Antarctica.

In 1921, he charted little-known islands held by Japan with the help of the Japanese navy, information which became valuable to the U.S. government during World War II. For his scholarly and personal contributions, France awarded him the Chevalier Legion Honor in 1924. While at the University of Michigan, Hobbs led expeditions to Greenland in 1926, 1927, and 1928 to research his theories on the influence of the Greenland ice cap on weather. During the 1928 expedition, Hobbs participated in the rescue of two men whose plane had been forced down in Greenland during a trans-Atlantic flight.

In 1950, Hobbs donated his collection of approximately 750 publications on polar expeditions to the University Library. Hobbs himself had written 15 books and many articles on geological and political issues. He died in Ann Arbor, MI on January 1, 1953, at the age of 88.

William Herbert Hobbs served as a professor of geology and director of the geology laboratory at the University of Michigan from 1906 to 1934. Born in Worchester, Massachusetts on July 2, 1864, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from Worchester Polytechnical Institute in 1883. He completed both master's and doctoral degrees at Johns Hopkins University. Before coming to Michigan, he served as curator of the geology museum and professor of mineralogy, metallurgy, and petrology at the University of Wisconsin.

Widely known for scientific expeditions to Greenland and worldwide geological research, he was also politically active, serving as chairman of the Ann Arbor branch of the National Security League during World War I. Many land formations have been named after Hobbs by explorer friends, including a mountain, several glaciers, and a strip of coastline in Antarctica.

In 1921, he charted little-known islands held by Japan with the help of the Japanese navy, information which became valuable to the U.S. government during World War II. For his scholarly and personal contributions, France awarded him the Chevalier Legion Honor in 1924. While at the University of Michigan, Hobbs led expeditions to Greenland in 1926, 1927, and 1928 to research his theories on the influence of the Greenland ice cap on weather. During the 1928 expedition, Hobbs participated in the rescue of two men whose plane had been forced down in Greenland during a trans-Atlantic flight.

In 1950, Hobbs donated his collection of approximately 750 publications on polar expeditions to the University Library. Hobbs himself had written 15 books and many articles on geological and political issues. He died in Ann Arbor, MI on January 1, 1953, at the age of 88.