Charles Gilbert Cullis died suddenly from angina at his residence in Hindhead, Surrey, on April 27th, 1941, in his 71st year.
He studied geology under Professor Charles Lapworth at the Mason College, Birmingham, and subsequently under Professor J. W. Judd at the Royal College of Science, London, where he was awarded the Murchison Medal in 1891. Shortly afterwards he obtained his degree as D.Sc. (London). From 1892 to 1914 he was Demonstrator and Assistant Professor of Geology at the Royal College of Science, and from 1914 to 1930 was Professor of Economic Mineralogy at the Imperial College of Science and Technology. In 1930 he was appointed Professor of Mining Geology at the Royal School of Mines, a position which he held until his retirement in 1937, when he was made Emeritus Professor. At the time of his death, he was serving as a member of the Non-Ferrous Metallic Ores Committee of the Ministry of Supply, Dr. Cullis was elected a Member of the Institution in 1914, was a Member of Council for 13 years, a Vice-President for 4 years, and occupied the Presidential Chair in the session 1937-38.
Professor S.J. Truscott has contributed the following appreciation:
Though Professor Cullis was the happy teacher his broad humanity and profound knowledge were fortunately not to be entirely confined within academic walls: his students out in the world, all of whom were his friends and to all of whom he remained both master and friend, saw to that; and in mining circles his sound judgement on the significance of geological factors in mining problems became widely recognized. Professionally, he visited mining fields in Britain, Europe and North America within reach during college vacations, all this study, all these contacts, and all this experience eventually culminating in work on Government Committees, on Committees of the Imperial Institute, and in work as a company director of mining exploration activities in progress when death found him.
In all these differing circles, academic, scientific and industrial, Professor Cullis was warmly welcomed both for brilliance and bonhomie, for generosity towards the performance of others and modesty towards his own; and though at his departure there will be diminution in the air at Institution Meetings, our Transactions remain enriched with his many contributions to discussions, all delivered with the perfect phrase and graceful poise characteristic of the man, in memory our continuing friend.
Vol. 51, Trans I.M.M. 1941-2, p. 332
