Henry C. Gunning


Henry Cecil Gunning, FRSC was a Canadian geologist and academic. A mineral, gunningite, was named in his honour.

Early life

Gunning was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. At the age of six his family moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. His father established a hardware business there.
Gunning earned a B.A.Sc. in Geological Engineering in 1924-25 from the University of British Columbia. He was one of the first two graduates from the UBC Geological Engineering program, started in 1921
. While at university he played on the rugby and soccer teams. After graduating he worked one summer as a contract miner in Stewart, British Columbia, before moving to Cambridge, Massachusetts to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. By 1927 Gunning had earned his PhD. In 1928, he married Edith Frances Fitts.

Career

After school, Dr. Gunning started working with the Geological Survey of Canada. He concentrated on survey in the geology and mineral deposits of British Columbia, with a focus on Vancouver Island. He also surveyed part of Quebec.
In 1939, he began his academic career with the University of British Columbia. As Head of the Department of Geology and Geography he both taught and performed research. In 1953, Gunning was promoted to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science. While he was Dean he also served as Director of the Geological Engineering Program. He surrendered that position in 1959 to travel to Rhodesia, Africa and conduct research.
Dr. Gunning returned to Vancouver to practice private consulting and also to establish an engineering program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Awards and Honours