About William Compston
Lived 1931 – 2025 (aged 94). William Compston was an Australian physicist, engineer and geophysicist.
William (Bill) Compston FAA, FRS (19 February 1931 – 16 May 2025) was an Australian geophysicist. He was a visiting fellow at the Australian National University.
Compston developed the sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP), for isotopic analyses of geological samples. SHRIMP enabled the world's oldest rock to be identified in Western Australia.
Honours and awards 2001 Centenary Medal from the Government of Australia 1998 Matthew Flinders Medal and Lecture of the Australian Academy of Science 1988 Mawson Medal and Lecture of the Australian Academy of Science
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 William Compston's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Compston's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Compston?
geophysicist
When was William Compston born?
William Compston was born on 19 February 1931.
When did William Compston die?
William Compston died on 16 May 2025.
What was William Compston's occupation?
William Compston was a physicist, engineer and geophysicist.
What nationality was William Compston?
William Compston was Australian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Compston. https://biography.guide/william-compston/
MLA: "William Compston." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-compston/.
Chicago: "William Compston." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-compston/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:14 UTC