Biographical data

Biographical Data
Costain, Cecil Clifford If you have images associated with this Person, please contact us at admin@nauticapedia.ca

Title	Lieutenant-Commander (L) (RCN(R))
Official Number	(nk)

Birth	00/00/1922	Death	18/12/1991
Place	(nk)	Place	Ottawa
Area	SK	Area	ON
Country	Canada	Country	Canada

Titles
Honours	DSC.
Awards	FRSC. FIEEE.
Qualifications	PhD.

Biography
After his naval service he returned to the University of Saskatchewan for M.Sc. work, then traveled to Britain on a scholarship to study for his Ph.D. at Cambridge with Sir George Sutherland. He finished his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, he was recruited in 1951 into the new Spectroscopy Section in the Division of Physics at the National Research Council in Ottawa, setting up an laboratory in microwave spectroscopy. He was the Head of Time and Frequency Section at National Research Council where he developed the Cesium Clock at the National Observatory. For many years he was the official Canadian delegate to the Consultative Committee for the Definition of the Second. He improved the dissemination of accurate time throughout Canada by radio, telephone, and satellite. He put into operation talking clock systems and computer time systems which give accurate time by telephone. He was also pivotal in early international comparisons of time scale. He served as President of the Canadian Association of Physicists 1980-1981. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1974. in 1985 he was honoured with the presentation of the Canadian Association of Physicists Medal for Achievement in Physics.

Biography

After his naval service he returned to the University of Saskatchewan for M.Sc. work, then traveled to Britain on a scholarship to study for his Ph.D. at Cambridge with Sir George Sutherland. He finished his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan, he was recruited in 1951 into the new Spectroscopy Section in the Division of Physics at the National Research Council in Ottawa, setting up an laboratory in microwave spectroscopy. He was the Head of Time and Frequency Section at National Research Council where he developed the Cesium Clock at the National Observatory. For many years he was the official Canadian delegate to the Consultative Committee for the Definition of the Second. He improved the dissemination of accurate time throughout Canada by radio, telephone, and satellite. He put into operation talking clock systems and computer time systems which give accurate time by telephone. He was also pivotal in early international comparisons of time scale. He served as President of the Canadian Association of Physicists 1980-1981. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1974. in 1985 he was honoured with the presentation of the Canadian Association of Physicists Medal for Achievement in Physics.

Military Service
He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (SB) (Radar) RCNVR (With seniority dated 20/04/1942). He undertook Radar Training (UofT) 1942. He served with the Royal Navy (serving in the Pacific on radar systems) 1942. In 1942 he served in HMS Indomitable as Radar Officer. He served in HMS Victorious as Radar Officer. He was appointed as a Electrical Lieutenant (R) (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 20/10/1942). He was appointed as an A/Electrical Lieutenant-Commander (R) (Temp.) (WHA) RCNVR 1943. He served in H.M.S. Indomitable 1943 (He was present at the amphibious landings in Sicily 1943. (He was demobilized.) He was appointed as a Lieutenant (L) RCN(R) (With seniority dated 20/04/1942). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (L) RCN(R) (With seniority dated 20/04/1950).

Military Service

He was appointed as a Sub-Lieutenant (SB) (Radar) RCNVR (With seniority dated 20/04/1942). He undertook Radar Training (UofT) 1942. He served with the Royal Navy (serving in the Pacific on radar systems) 1942. In 1942 he served in HMS Indomitable as Radar Officer. He served in HMS Victorious as Radar Officer. He was appointed as a Electrical Lieutenant (R) (Temp.) RCNVR (With seniority dated 20/10/1942). He was appointed as an A/Electrical Lieutenant-Commander (R) (Temp.) (WHA) RCNVR 1943. He served in H.M.S. Indomitable 1943 (He was present at the amphibious landings in Sicily 1943. (He was demobilized.) He was appointed as a Lieutenant (L) RCN(R) (With seniority dated 20/04/1942). He was appointed as a Lieutenant-Commander (L) RCN(R) (With seniority dated 20/04/1950).

Vessels Owned
Aircraft Flown
Named Features

Anecdotes

References
Government of Canada The Canadian Navy List Ottawa ON; Blatherwick, John (1992); The Navy List Volumes I, II and III (HMSO London); http://www.pttimeeting.org/archivemeetings/1992papers/Vol%2024_00.pdf;
Last update
2011-02-14 00:00:00

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Biographical Data

Costain, Cecil Clifford