Simpson

George Gaylord Simpson

By Alyssa Bauer
  • George Gaylord Simpson is born.

    George Gaylord Simpson is born.

    Born in Chicago, Illinois.
  • Period: to

    World War I

  • Simpson enters the University of Colorado

    Simpson enters the University of Colorado

    Started university at age 16. It wasn’t until his second year when he decided to major in geology.
  • Simpson marries his first wife

    Simpson marries his first wife

    Secretly married Lydia Pedroja whom he met at the University of Colorado.
  • Simpson transfers to Yale University

    Simpson transfers to Yale University

    Transferred in his senior year because he was advised that if he wanted to be a geologist and paleontologist, Yale was the place to study.
  • Simpson`s first daughter is born

    Simpson`s first daughter is born

    Helen is born in New Haven, Connecticut.
  • Simpson receives his Bachelor's degree in geology

    Simpson receives his Bachelor's degree in geology

    Competed his degree at Yale University.
  • Simpson receives his Ph.D. in geology

    Simpson receives his Ph.D. in geology

    Completed his Ph.D. at Yale University.
  • Simpson`s second daughter is born

    Simpson`s second daughter is born

    Patricia is born in New Haven, Connecticut.
  • Simpson becomes an assistant curator of vertebrate paleontology

    Simpson becomes an assistant curator of vertebrate paleontology

    Simpson joins the staff at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
  • Simpson`s third daughter is born

    Simpson`s third daughter is born

    Joan is born in Boulder, Colorado.
  • Period: to

    Simpson is promoted to associate curator

    Promoted from assistant curator to associate curator at the American Museum of Natural History. He held this post until 1942 and during this time, he made several research expeditions to South America.
  • Simpson`s fourth daughter is born

    Simpson`s fourth daughter is born

    Elizabeth is born in California.
  • Period: to

    The Great Depression

  • Simpson divorces Lydia Pedroja

    Simpson divorces Lydia Pedroja

    Divorced Lydia Pedroja due to her history of mental problems. Simpson has custody of Helen and Patricia while Lydia has custody of the two youngest daughters Joan and Elizabeth.
  • Simpson marries his second wife

    Simpson marries his second wife

    Marries Ann Roe, a childhood friend from Denver.
  • Period: to

    World War II

  • Period: to

    Simpson serves in the U.S. Army in World War II

    Simpson served in the U.S. Army in Italy and northern Africa as an officer on the staff of General George S. Patton.
  • Period: to

    Simpson becomes a Professor of Zoology

    Professor of Zoology at Columbia University.
  • Period: to

    The Cold War

  • Death of King George IV

    Death of King George IV

    Elizabeth becomes Queen.
  • Period: to

    Simpson accepts a post as Alexander Agazziz Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology

    He holds this post at the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology, in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1959-1970.
  • Simpson receives the National Medal of Science

    Simpson receives the National Medal of Science

    Received for his studies of vertebrate evolution through geologic time, and for scholarly synthesis of a new understanding of organic evolution based upon genetics and paleontology.
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    Simpson becomes Professor of the Department of Geosciences

    Professor of the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona from 1967 until his retirement in 1982.
  • Death of George Gaylord Simpson

    Death of George Gaylord Simpson

    Died at the age of 82 in Tucson, Arizona.