Michael John Wise | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 August 1918 |
| Died | 13 October 2015 |
| Awards | Gill Memorial award, Founder's Medal, Alexander Körōsi Csoma Medal |
| Academic background | |
| Education | Saltley Secondary School |
| Alma mater | University of Birmingha |
| Influences | Gordon Warwick |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Geographer |
| Institutions | London School of Economics |
Michael John WiseCBE,MC (17 August 1918 – 13 October 2015) was a British academic who served as a professor of geography at theUniversity of London.
Michael Wise was born inStafford in 1918. He was the son of Harry Cuthbert Wise and Sarah Evelyn Wise.[1]
After attending Saltley Secondary School, Birmingham, he attended theUniversity of Birmingham where he completed his BA in Geography in 1939. After his service in World War II, he returned to Birmingham as an assistant lecturer and lecturer, gaining aPhD in 1951. It was at this point that he metGordon Warwick, a fellow assistant lecturer, who became a lifelong friend, with Wise being godfather to the latter's daughter. They later collaborated on the British Association Handbook for the Birmingham meeting.[2]
During the Second World War, Wise served in the British Army in Europe and the Middle East, reaching the rank of Major in 1944. He was awarded theMilitary Cross.
On completion of his PhD in 1951, Wise moved to theLondon School of Economics as lecturer, becoming Sir Ernest CasselReader inEconomic geography in 1954 and Professor in 1958. During the student disturbances of 1968, he defended the treasures of the LSE Map Room and negotiated their exemption from occupation during a sit-in.
Wise served as member, president, etc. of many learned societies including theBritish Association for the Advancement of Science, the Transport Studies Society,International Geographical Union,Geographical Association, andRoyal Geographical Society.
He died on 13 October 2015 at the age of 97.[3]
Wise received the RGS Gill Memorial award (1958) andFounder's Medal (1977) and also the Alexander Körōsi Csoma Medal of the Hungarian Geographical Society (1980), the Tokyo Geographical Society Medal (1981) and the Lauréat d’Honneur of theIGU (1984). He received theCBE in 1979. The University of Birmingham awarded him an honoraryDSc in 1982. In 2008 his 90th birthday was marked by a gathering of colleagues and former students at [LSE].[4]
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