Richard Alexander Fullerton Penrose, Jr.

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Richard Alexander Fullerton Penrose, Jr. ( December 17, 1863 - July 31, 1931 ) was an American geologist and entrepreneur.

Richard Alexander Fullerton Penrose, Jr., better known as RAF Penrose, Jr. during his career . , graduated from Harvard in 1885 with a thesis on phosphates . After graduation, he undertook geological mappings in Texas and Arkansas until 1892 , then toured the country as a prospector . The most famous work that grew out of this activity was his survey of Cripple Creek in Colorado , which he carried out on behalf of the US Geological Survey (USGS) .

Penrose was a person of high personal integrity and while serving with the USGS he made no purchases of land or mining concessions in his study area. However, he did so in other places during this time. For example, he bought silver and copper mines in Arizona . After the death of his father in 1908, Penrose changed his field of activity and became a successful entrepreneur and investor not only in the mining sector. In this area, however, he particularly benefited from his experience as a geologist.

After making considerable fortunes, Penrose donated the Penrose Medal of the Geological Society of America (GSA) in 1927 . He was an active member of this geological society: admitted to the society in 1889, he sat on the board of directors of the GSA between 1924 and 1916, was its vice-president in 1919, member of the finance committee between 1924 and 1929, and finally president in 1930. After him is also named the Penrose gold medal .

With his death in 1931 he left a generous legacy of the society by all other liabilities of both the GSA and the net of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia each left a sum of close to 4 million dollars. This foundation still serves to finance the GSA's scholarship program today .

Because of his success in mineralogy, the mineral Penroseit was named after him.

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personal data
SURNAME Penrose, Richard Alexander Fullerton Jr.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Penrose, RAF Jr.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American geologist and entrepreneur
DATE OF BIRTH December 17, 1863
DATE OF DEATH July 31, 1931