Fisk, G(eorge) W(illiam) (1882-1972)

British parapsychologist and lecturer in physics. Fisk was born January 9, 1882, at Liverpool, England. He studied at London University (B.D., 1906) and Victoria University (B.A., 1907). After graduation, Fisk moved to China where he lectured in physics at Chi-lu University, Shantung, China (1908-1915), and served as British vice-consul at the Chinese Emigration Bureau Center, North China (1915-19), and as labor superintendent of Kailan Mining Administration (1919-30). While in China, Fisk joined the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). He became fascinated with the examples of paranormal activity he saw in the Orient. Later, upon his return to England, he became a charter member of the Parapsychological Association, joined the SPR Council (1950), and served as editor of the Journal and Proceedings of the SPR (1957-66). In 1958 he and Donald J. West received the McDougall Award for their paper "Psychokinetic Experiments with a Single Subject."

Fisk spent more than 30 years in quantitative research on ESP. His articles were published in the Journal of the SPR and the Journal of Parapsychology. He also wrote a Chinese-English-French phrase book for mining engineers.

Sources:

Berger, Arthur S., and Joyce Berger. The Encyclopedia of Parapsychology and Psychical Research. New York: Paragon House, 1991.

Fisk, George W. "How Primitive is ESP?" Tomorrow (spring 1957).

——. "We Card-Guessers." Tomorrow (winter 1957).

Fisk, George W., and Donald J. West. "Psychokinetic Experiments with a Single Subject." Parapsychology Newsletter (November-December 1957).

Heywood, Rosalind. "G. W. Fisk and ESP." Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 47 (1973).

Pleasants, Helene, ed. Biographical Dictionary of Parapsychology. New York: Helix Press, 1964.