Frank Maine Bateson

Background

Bateson, Frank Maine was born on October 31, 1909 in Wellington, New Zealand. Son of Charles and Alice (Rossiter) Bateson.

Education

Degree (honorary), University Waikato, 1979.

Career

His interest in astronomy developed during his school years in Sydney, Australia when he read Robert Stawell Ball"s Great Astronomers. In 1927, at the age of 18, he founded the Variable Star Section (VSS) of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand. He remained as director of the VSS until 2004.

Under his lead, the VSS observed variable stars and collated reports on stars from both professional and amateur observers throughout the world and was known worldwide for its work in the field of variable stars.

He was associated with the VSS until his death. He served in World World War II with New Zealand"s Home Naval Service, then after the war moved to Rarotonga, Cook Islands where he worked until 1960.

In 1957 he was elected to the Parliament of the Cook Islands, the first person of European heritage to be so elected. He spent much of his career working in the business field while pursuing his astronomical interests as a hobby.

Bateson was instrumental in the founding of the Mount John University Observatory near Lake Tekapo, assisting the University of Canterbury in finding an appropriate location for the observatory.

Bateson was appointed astronomer-in-charge of the observatory after it opened in 1963. He held this position until his retirement in 1969. Bateson also authored or co-authored over 300 scientific papers.

He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) in 1963.

He served on the society"s council for a number of years, including one year as president The asteroid 2434 Bateson was named in his honour.

Bateson died at the age of 97 on 16 April 2007, in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Achievements

• Frank Maine Bateson has been listed as a noteworthy astronomer, researcher by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

European member Cook Islands Legislation Assembly, Rarotonga, 1957-1960. Secretary Cook Islands Crippled Children's Society, 1947-1959. Secretary-manager St. John Ambulance Service, Tauranga, 1968-1974, chairman transport, 1976-1979.

Chief petty officer Royal New Zealand Navy, 1940-1945. Fellow Royal Astronomical Society (London) (Hannah Jackson-Gwilt medal 1960), Royal Astronomical Society New Zealand (director variable star section since 1927, president 1966-1967, Murray Geddes Memorial prize 1950). Member International Astronomical Unikon (commission 27 & 42 since 1950, official delegate 1964, 67, 73), Canada Astronomical Society, Masons, and others.

Connections

Married Doris McGoldrick, April 4, 1931 (deceased November 1985). Children: June, Audrey.

Father:

Charles Bateson

Mother:

Alice (Rossiter) Bateson

Spouse:

Doris McGoldrick

child:

Audrey Bateson

child:

June Bateson