Cowan, Henry Jacob (HJ)

Henry Jacob (Jack) Cowan was born on 21 August 1919, in Glogau, Silesia. At 15 he went to England and completed his school education at Whittingehame College in Brighton on a scholarship. After matriculating he studied civil and mechanical engineering at the University of Manchester, gaining first class honours at the age of nineteen. Two years later he obtained a masters degree. Interned at the start of WWII and sent to Canada. Released and returned voluntarily to the UK to join the British Army. After a short period with the Pioneer Corps, he transferred to the Royal Engineers. He spent the rest of World War II involved in the dismantling of mines. Seriously injured on 1st January 1945, and was honourably discharged. Married Renate, a nurse, in Sheffield in 1952 and had 2 daughters, Kitty and Judith. In 1946 he was assistant lecturer at the University of Cardiff, and in 1948 he had a lectureship in civil engineering at the University of Sheffield where he completed his PhD. Appointed to the chair of Architectural Science University of Sydney in 1953, the first such appointment in the world. Editor of journal Architectural Science Review, for approx 50 years. Authored and co-authored 25 books. Awards and Honours include Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. Awarded Chapman and Monash medals by the Institution of Engineers, Australia. Awarded a DEng by the University of Sheffield in 1963. Received an AO in1983. The University of Sydney awarded him a honorary Doctor of Architecture for his outstanding contribution to the university.