John Johnston O'Neill
Canadian geologist, Geological Survey of Canada, and later, professor of geology, Dean of Science and Dean of Engineering at McGill University
About John Johnston O'Neill
Lived 1886 – 1966 (aged 79). John Johnston O'Neill was a geologist.
John Johnston O'Neill (November 12, 1886 – June 1, 1966) was a Canadian geologist and academic.
Born in Port Colborne, Ontario, the son of Thomas John O'Neill, an Irish immigrant, and Mary Jane Henderson, O'Neill received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in geology and mining from McGill University in 1909 and 1910. He earned a Ph.D. in structural geology and petrography from Yale University in 1912. From 1912 to 1913, he did postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin.
O'Neill worked for the Geological Survey of Canada from 1909 to 1913 and from 1914 to 1920. In 1913, he spent a year as a geologist on Vilhjalmur Stefansson's Canadian Arctic Expedition. In 1920, he worked for the Whitehall Petroleum Co. in India. In 1921, he was appointed assistant professor of geology at McGill University. In 1929, he became head of the Department of Geology. From 1935 to 1939, he was dean of science. He also served as dean of graduate studies and research (1938–1942) and dean of engineering (1942–1952). From 1948 to 1952, he was a vice-principal. He retired in 1952. In 1999 a new mineral from Mont Saint-Hilaire was named "oneillite" in his honour.
He died in Ottawa in 1966.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in John Johnston O'Neill's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Johnston O'Neill's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Johnston O'Neill?
Canadian geologist, Geological Survey of Canada, and later, professor of geology, Dean of Science and Dean of Engineering at McGill University (1886-1966)
When was John Johnston O'Neill born?
John Johnston O'Neill was born on 12 November 1886 in Port Colborne.
When did John Johnston O'Neill die?
John Johnston O'Neill died on 1 June 1966 in Ottawa.
What was John Johnston O'Neill's occupation?
John Johnston O'Neill was a geologist.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Johnston O'Neill
· DBpedia: John Johnston O'Neill
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Johnston O'Neill. https://biography.guide/john-johnston-o-neill/
MLA: "John Johnston O'Neill." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-johnston-o-neill/.
Chicago: "John Johnston O'Neill." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-johnston-o-neill/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:31 UTC