King, William Bernard Robinson., 1889-1963

William Bernard Robinson King was born on 12th November 1889 at West Burton, near Aysgarth, Yorkshire, the younger son of William Robinson King (1854-1921) a solicitor, and his wife, Florence Muriel, nee Theed (1865-1943). His maternal grandmother was a descendant of Dr Hey who founded Leeds Infirmary. King had an older brother, but he was accidentally killed at the age of 21.

King was educated at Mr Houfe’s school in Aysgarth and then at Uppingham School, Rutland where he achieved the school VIII in rifle shooting. In 1908 he went to Jesus College (as had his father and brother), and read the Natural Sciences Tripos. He dropped Physics in favour of botany and took Part I in 1911 and Part II in geology in 1912, attaining a First Class degree and being awarded the Harkness Scholarship [awarded for the proficiency in science of Geology and Palaeontology, established by Mrs Pearson in memory of her brother, Robert Harkness [Professor of Geology, Queens College, Cork].

...