James White

James White (February 3, 1863 – February 26, 1928) was a Canadian geographer. White studied geology at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. In 1883, he became the Geographer and Chief Draftsman for the Geological Survey of Canada. White and a team of 20 cartographers produced the first edition of the Atlas of Canada in 1906.

Early life James White was born in Ingersoll, Canada West, on 3 February 1863. He attended Atkins Private School, Ingersoll Collegiate Institute and went on to graduate from the Royal Military College in June 1883.

Geographical work In January 1884, White was employed as a topographer on a geological survey of Canada. Later that year and over the course of 1885 he surveyed the Rocky Mountains region, after which he continued his work in the gold district of Madoc, Ontario (1886), the phosphate district of Ottawa (1887–1890) and then the Kingston and Pembroke districts of Ontario (1891–1893).

After spending 1894 as the geological survey's geographer and chief draughtsman, White was appointed chief geographer of the department of the interior in 1899. He served on the Alaska boundary commission in 1903 and undertook an investigation into trans-Atlantic passenger steamships in 1906.

Commission of conservation James White was appointed secretary of the Commission of Conservation in 1909. In his position with the Commission of Conservation, White emphasized that the Canadian forest resources were limited but also noted that the commission had no administrative powers and was not aligned with any particular political ideology.

White pointed out that Canada had "55 years' supply...at 1918 rates of consumption, and the rate...is increasing"

He died in Ottawa on February 26, 1928.

Awards and memberships Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society Member of the National Geographic Society Member of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers Member of the Champlain Society Member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Published works The topographical work of the Geological Survey of Canada (1897) Atlas of Canada (1906) Place-names in the Thousand Islands, St. Lawrence River (1910) Boundary disputes and treaties (1914) Dictionary of altitudes in the Dominion of Canada (1916) Place-names in the Rocky Mountains between the 49th parallel and the Athabaska River (1916) Fuels of western Canada and their efficient utilization (1918) Conservation in 1918 (1919) Power in Alberta; water, coal and natural gas (1919)

White is buried at Beechwood Cemetery, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.