Herman Shaw

Dr Herman Shaw (14 October 1892 – 4 May 1950) was a British geophysicist who was Director of the Science Museum in London, England.^[1][2]

Shaw was born on 14 October 1891 and was the only son of G. H. Shaw of Huddersfield, Yorkshire.^[3] He was educated at Bradford Grammar School, followed by studying for a degree in physics at the Royal College of Science, starting in 1911 as a Royal Scholar. During World War I, he served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (1915), Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service (1916), and a Captain in the Royal Flying Corps (1917).^[3]

In 1925, Shaw joined the Science Museum as a member of staff, rising to become the Keeper of Physics and Geophysics, and then the Director of the museum. He was particularly interested in research about geophysics, and was awarded a DSc degree by the University of London for research using a Eötvös pendulum in 1931. He was a member of the Physical Society and acted as treasurer. In 1936, he co-organized a meeting of the International Union for Geodesy and Geophysics in Edinburgh. He was a founder member of the British Society for the History of Science in 1947.^[4][5]

In 1919, Shaw married Constance Shaw, the eldest daughter of F. Shaw, of Harrow, London. They had a single son, who died in 1946.^[3]