# Kenneth Williamson

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**Kenneth Williamson** [FRSE](/source/FRSE) MBOU (c. 1914 – 14 June 1977)[1] was a British [ornithologist](/source/Ornithology) who had a strong association with [Scotland](/source/Scotland) and with [bird migration](/source/Bird_migration).

## Life

Williamson was born in [Bury](/source/Bury,_Greater_Manchester), [Lancashire](/source/Lancashire). After briefly working as a journalist, Williamson started training in biology at the [Manx Museum](/source/Manx_Museum).[2] He served with the [British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II](/source/British_occupation_of_the_Faroe_Islands_in_World_War_II) from 1941 to 1945.[2] After the war he continued his biological training at the [Yorkshire Museum](/source/Yorkshire_Museum) under [Reginald Wagstaffe](/source/Reginald_Wagstaffe).[3] He was employed as a Museum Assistant for Natural History from 1946 until April 1949 when he left to become the Director of the [Fair Isle](/source/Fair_Isle) [Bird Observatory](/source/Bird_observatory).[4] He remained in the role of director until 1957 when he left to be the inaugural Migration Research Officer for the [British Trust for Ornithology](/source/British_Trust_for_Ornithology).[2]

He served as editor of the journal *Bird Migration* (1958–1963). He served on the [British Birds Rarities Committee](/source/British_Birds_Rarities_Committee) (1959–1963).[2]

On 2 March 1959 Williamson was elected a Fellow of the [Royal Society of Edinburgh](/source/Royal_Society_of_Edinburgh). His proposers were [George Waterston](/source/George_Waterston), [Vero Wynne-Edwards](/source/Vero_Wynne-Edwards), [John Berry](/source/John_Berry_(zoologist)) and [James Ritchie](/source/James_Ritchie_(naturalist)).[1]

He died unexpectedly during the night of 14 June 1977.

### Personal life

He married Esther Louise Rein of [Tórshavn](/source/T%C3%B3rshavn) in 1944, with whom he had a daughter and a son.

## Publications

As well as numerous ornithological papers, books authored or co-authored by Williamson include:

- 1937 – *The Sky’s Their Highway*. Putnam: London. (Illustrated by [Charles Tunnicliffe](/source/Charles_Tunnicliffe))
- 1948 – *The Atlantic Islands. A Study of the Faeroe Life and Scene*. Collins: London.
- 1960 – *St Kilda Summer*. Hutchinson: London. (With [J. Morton Boyd](/source/John_Morton_Boyd)).
- 1963 – *A Mosaic of Islands*. Oliver & Boyd: London. (With J. Morton Boyd).
- 1965 – *Fair Isle and its Birds*. Oliver & Boyd: London.

## References

1. ["Former RSE Fellows, 1783–2002"](http://www.rse.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/all_fellows.pdf), [Royal Society of Edinburgh](/source/Royal_Society_of_Edinburgh), retrieved 12 March 2019

1. "Obituaries". *Bird Study*. **24** (3): 202–205. 1977. [doi:10.1080/00063657709476557](https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657709476557)

1. [*Annual Report for the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for 1945*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/264121#page/12/mode/1up). 1945. p. 5.

1. [*Annual Report for the Council of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society for 1949*](https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/264326#page/30/mode/1up). 1950. p. 6.

- Williamson, Kenneth; & Boyd, J. Morton. (1960). *St Kilda Summer*. Hutchinson: London.
- Williamson, Kenneth. (1970). *The Atlantic Islands*. Routledge & Kegan Paul: London. (2nd edition). ISBN 0-7100-6911-1

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