Benjamin Drake Van Wissen

Benjamin Drake Van Wissen (March 17, 1892 – November 5, 1984), was an Australian civil engineer.

Born in Melbourne, Van Wissen joined the World War I (WWI) war effort as an engineer, but was best known as the first manager of the mining operations of the large guano deposit located on Nauru after its capture following WWI. Guano was mined for its phosphates for use as a fertilizer, most of which were shipped back to Australia.

Van Wissen designed an efficient harvesting machine for the guano that maximized the extraction of phosphates from the island, and to this day a similar system is in place.

Van Wissen remained on Nauru for most of his life. A statue of him can be found on the island, commemorating his investment of time and energy in the Nauru guano mining program, as well as his many innovations in its harvesting. Due to the large number of seagulls inhabiting the island, the artist remarked, "He'll keep on collecting guano well into the next life".citequote

References

* [http://www.denbarsys.com/ Guano (Quechua)] at denbarsys.comdead link|date=August 2008