Obituary. Sir Edward Frankland, Kcb, Dcl, Lld

Obituary. J SIB EDWARDFRANKLAND. 343

OBITUARY.

SIR EDWARDFRANKLAND, K.C.B.,D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S., was born at Churchtown, near Lancaster, on the 18th January, 1825. Afterreceiving his early education atthe Lancaster Grammar School, he studiedchemistry under Playfair, inthe laboratory of the Museum of Practical Geology, and there began, jointlywith Kolbe, his first research, whichdealt with the transformation of the cyanogenradicle into carboxyl. During 1847-48 he held the post of Science Master at Queenwood College, Hants. In 1848 hewent to Germany, wherehe continued his researches, first in Bunsen’s laboratory, at Marburg, and afterwards in that of Liebig, at Giessen. In 1851 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry at Owens College, Manchester, beingthe first occupant of the chair. After holding that position for nearly seven years he removed to London as head of the chemical department in the Medical School of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. In 1863 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, in succession to Faraday, and’ in l865 he followed Hofmann in the same capacity at the Royal College of Chemistry, a post which he held until his final retirement in 1885, although meanwhile the Institution hadbeen merged in theNormal School of Science (now the Royal College of Science) and Royal School of Mines, and the chair hadbeen transferred to SouthKensington. Frankland‘s scientificwork, asan inspection of his collected “Experimental Researches in Pure,Allied, andPhysical Chemistry ” will show, covers almost the entire field of chemical science. In purechemistry, one of hisearliest researches, begun at Queenwood in 1847, dealtwith the isolation of the alcohol radicles, thehypothetical hydrocarbon groups supposed to be contained in the alcohols and their derivatives. He succeeded in obtaining compounds of the expectedcomposition; butthe discovery lost much of its interest when it was recognised, by the application of Avogadro’s law to these compounds, that they had twice the molecular weight which Frankland originally assigned to them-thus his isolated radicle methyl proved to be identical withthe hydrocarbonethane. Incidentally, however, inthe course of this work, he discovered the compounds of the alcohol

Downloaded by [] on [12/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. 344FRANKLAND. EDWARD SIR [Obituary. radicles with zinc l-zinc-methyl and its homologues-analogous to Bunsen's cacodyl. The method employed in their preparation was of general application, and numerous members of this class of organo metallic compounds, containingtin, lead, mercuryand similar metals,were thusobtained by Frankland and other investigators. Thesesubstances were of great scientific interest, not merely on account of their remarkablephysical properties and the numerous applications of whichthey showed themselves capable in chemical synthesis, but because the study of them led Frankland in 1852 to the enunciation of the law of valency (ZOC. cit.). This law, whichstates that the affinity of eachatom is fully satisfied by combination with a fixed number of other atoms of a given kind, forms one of the foundation-stones of modern chemical theory. Later on, he devoted himself more especially to the subject of chemical synthesis, and his researches on the synthesis of acids of the lactic series,2 of the acrylic series,3 of ethers, of fatty acids, and of ketones,4 belong tothe recognised classics of organic chemistry. This work was carried out jointly with the late Mr. B. F. Duppa, F.R.S. In the domain of physico-chemical research, one of Frankland's most important investigations dealt with the illuminating power of flames. He started with the intention of ascertaining whether the rate of combustion of substances was influenced by changes in atmospheric pressure,5 and for this purpose heburnt candles, determining their loss in weight per hour, first at Chamounix, and afterwards on the summit of Mont Blanc, where, in company with Professor Tyndall, he spenta night. The result of the experiment wasto show that the rate of combustion in the two cases was practically the same, but that the illuminatingpower was greatly reduced at the reduced pressure. On his return to England, he proved by means of photometric experiments carried outwith flames burnt under pressures which could be varied at will, that, up totwo atmospheres, theilluminating power wasdirectly proportional tothe atmospheric pressure, butthat above two atmospheres, it increased more rapidlythan the pressure. At high pressures, flames which gave hardly any light under ordinary conditions, became strongly luminous; thus, under a pressure of

~ ' Philosophical Transactions, 1852, vol. cxlii. p. 417. Ibid, 1866, vol. clvi. p. 37. Journal Chemical Society, 1865, vol. xviii. p. 133. ' Philosophical Transactions, 1866, vol. clvi. p. 37. Ibid, 1862, vol. cli. p. 629.

Downloaded by [] on [12/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. Obituary.] SIR EDWARD FRANKLAND. 345 from ten atmospheresto twenty atmospheres, ahydrogen flame became bright enough to read by. These observations, proving as theydid that the illuminating power of flames was connected with their density, led Frankland to propound the view that the light emitted by hydro-carbon flames was due to the presence of ignited, very dense, vaporous hydro-carbons in the flame, instead of, as taught by Davy, to ignited particles of solid carbon. This view Frankland supported by many ingeniousexperiments and with great wealth of illustration; but, in later years, he some- what receded from this position, and,in lecturing to students, was wont to admit that at least aportion of the light of such flames was produced in accordance with Davy’s view. Theretardation in the combustion of time fuses atgreat altitudes, which appeared to contradict the results Frankland had obtained with candles, was also explained by him in the memoir just referred to. He showed that substanceswhich, likegun- powder, contained the oxygen necessary for their own combustion, would behave differently towards changes of pressure from those which obtained their oxygen from the air, the reduced pressure in the former case occasioning a rapid withdrawal of the burning gases from the fuse and consequently diminishing their chance of rapidly inflaming the still unburntportion of the charge. Spectrumanalysis for a time claimed Frankland’sattention. In a letterto Tyndall, written in 1861 and published inthe Philosophical Magazine, he calls attention to the fact that at high temperatures a blueline makes its appearance inthe lithium spectrum. This was, it is believed, the firstobservation of the variation of spectra with temperature. He also published, jointly with Mr. (now Sir) J. Norman Lockyer,various researches on gaseous spectra in relation to the physical constitution of the sun, stars, and nebula’ The heavy work connected with the Rivers Commission compelled him to discontinue this work, as, indeed, most of his other work in pure science. In 1865 Frankland, Fick, andWislicenus arranged an experiment to put to a crucial test the theory that the source of muscular power is the oxidation and destruction of the muscles themselves. Theyintended to confine themselves to anon-nitrogenous diet, and to ascend the Faulhorn, taking strict account of the greatest possible muscular oxidation by determining the amountof nitrogen expelled from the body of each person before, during, and after theascent of the mountain. Franklandwas prevented from

Proceedings Royal Society, vol. xvii. pp. 288 and 453 ; vol. xviii. p. 79.

Downloaded by [] on [12/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. 346 SIR EDWARD FRANKLAND. [Obituary. taking part in the ascent, which was carriedout by Fick and Wislicenus, but upon him devolved thesubsequent laboratory analyses, as also certain calorimetric experiments to determine the heat values of different kinds of food. The result of the investi- gation was to show that the muscle is a machine, the energy of whichis generated by the combustion of non-nitrogenousfuel, such as fats or carbo-hydrates. Other physical investigations carried out by Frankland dealt with thesubjects of the glacial period, climate, andsolar intensity. This work wascarried out during holidayrambles, chiefly in Switzerlandand Norway. Thematerial for aresearch intothe natureand causes of dry fog was foundnearer home. During dense London fogs the hygrometer frequently indicates that the air is far from being saturated with moisture. Frankland showed that if a drop of water is exposed, for even a very short time, to the action of coal smoke, its evaporation is enormously retarded, this effect being due to the invisible film of coal oil which forms on the surface of the drop ; and he pointed out that thiscondition ispresent in the case of theminute globules of water which constitute a town fog, thus accounting both for the persistency and for the irritant qualityof these familiar plagues. Frankland‘s earliest work in applied chemistry was carried out in 1861, just after his election to the chair of chemistry at the Owens College, Manchester, and consisted in an examination of a new process for themanufacture of anenriched water-gas. He devoted much attention to the question of the illuminating power of gas, and invented, in 1854, the earliest form of regenerative burner, an account of which was published in Ure’s “Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures, and Mines.” It consisted of an Argand burner fitted with two concentric glass chimneys, the air supplied to the flame passing downwards between the two chimneys, and having its temperature thus raisedto about 500” F. or 600’ F. before it reached the flame. Thisburner gave an increase of 67 per cent. in light, with an equal consumption of gas. He also devised, along with Mr. W. J. Ward, an improved apparatus for the analysis of gases,l which combined the accuracy of Bunsen’s well-known process with a rapidity in working impossible by the older method. A simplified form of the same apparatus was afterwards used by Frankland in measuring the gases obtained in his ‘‘ combustion process ” for determining carbon andnitrogen in water analysis. Frankland was, however, best known, at least to the general

Journal Chemical Society, 1853, vol. vi. p. 197.

public, asthe greatest living authority on water-supply. His connection with this subject dated from 1865, when, in succeeding Hofmann at the Royal School of Mines, he undertook to continue, for theRegistrar-General, the monthly analyses of the metro- politan waters which had been commenced a few months earlier byhis predecessor. These monthlyanalytical reports he continued to furnishto the time of his death. Intaking up this work, the processes of wateranalysis then known to chemists were brought under his notice ; snd he soon found that several of them were highly untrustworthy-especially those which had for their object the detection of pollution by sewage or animalmatters. After a very laborious series of experiments, extending over about two years, in which he was joined by his then pupil, Professor H. E. Armstrong, he succeeded in devising processes bywhich the carbon and nitrogen of the polluting organic matter actually present in the water at the moment of analysis, and the nitrogen of previously existing animal matter, couldbe determined with accuracy.’ In 1868 hewas appointed a member of the second Royal Commission on thePollution of Riversand Domestic Water-Supply ; and for carrying out the necessary investigations he was furnished by the Government with a specially equipped laboratory. The work of this Commission occupied him during six years, and the voluminous reports drawn up by him embodied an exhaustive discussion of the problems of water-supply. Amongst the subjects considered were: the chemical quality of water from different sources ; the possibility of rendering polluted water again wholesome ; the propagation of epidemic diseases by potable water; the alleged influence of the hardness of potable water upon health; the deterioration of water during its trans- mission throughmains and service pipes;the quality of the London water-supply as derivedrespectively from the Thames, the Lee, the deep wells in the chalk and the shallow wells in the Metropolis. The shallowwells were of course unhesitatingly condemned ; but as regards the river supplies, although he was at first opposed to their use, yet latterly, when modern processes of filtration on a large scale, as practised by the Water Companies, became developed, and their purifying action was better under- stood, he changed his opinion, and, in a lecture delivered before the Royal Institution in 1896, declared unhesitatingly in favour of the Thamesas a source of water-supply for London. After his retirement from his professorship, Frankland busied

Journal Chemical Society, 1868, vol. xxi. p. 77,

Downloaded by [] on [12/09/16]. Copyright © ICE Publishing, all rights reserved. 348 SIR EDWARD FRANKLAND. [Obituary. himself, amongst other things, with investigating the chemistry of storage batteries, on which subject he published three Papers in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. The electric installation at his residence, at Reigate, included a battery of accumulators constructed on a system of his own. In addition to his numerous researches, Frankland published “Lecture Notes for ChemicalStudents.” In thesehe employed a new chemical notationhe had devised which expressed, in a very compendious form, theconstitution of the various compounds. Thesystem has not been adopted by chemists, the reason being that for inorganic chemistry it was hardly required, while for the rapidly expanding science of organic chemistry it did not prove sufficiently elastic. Frankland was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1853, and a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1866. He was also a foreign member of the Academies of Bavaria,Berlin, St. Petersburg, Upsala, America and Bohemia. Oxford conferred on him thedegree ofD.C.L. in 1873, and Edinburghthat of LL.D. in 1884. Hewas President of the ChemicalSociety in 1871, firstPresident of theInstitute of Chemistry in 1877, and Foreign Secretary of the Royal Society from 1895 to the time of his death. The latter Society awarded him a Royal Medal-the highest distinction of that kind in its gift-in 1894. In 1895, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s Jubilee, he was made a K.C.B. He wastwice married,first, in 1851, to Sophie, daughter of Herr F. W. Fick, Chief Engineer to the Electorate of Hessen- Cassel, and secondly, in 1877, to Ellen Frances,eldest daughter of Mr. C. K. Grenside, of the Inner Temple, Barrister-at-Law. She also predeceased him. Dr. Percy Frankland, F.R.S., Professor of Chemistryin the Mason University College, Birmingham,well known for his researches on optically active compounds and on the chemical action of micro-organisms, is the second son of the first marriage. Sir Edward Frankland died, after a very brief illness, on the 9th August, 1899, in Norway, where, for many years, he had been in the habit of spending his summer holidays, in the pursuit of hisfavourite sport of salmon fishing. His death preceded by a week that of his old teacher, Bunsen. Frankland’s fame, doubtless, will ultimately rest on his contri- butionsto pure chemistry. In spite of the enormous practical importance of the advances which he made in the methods and conclusions of sanitary science, this work is, from its very nature,

liable to besuperseded ; and even the parts which survive are ultimately incorporated, without acknowledgment, with the work of others. But the man who has discovered a new law of nature, and has enriched chemistry with some of the most extraordinary substances known to it, hassecured a place in the history of science from which no changes of fashion can oust him. He was elected an Honorary Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers on the 9th January, 1894, on the ground that by his distinguished attainments, his long and extensive experience of the chemical aspectof works of water-supply and sewage-treatment, andhis consistent anddisinterested advocacy of the supply of water of a high standard of purity, he had helped to advance the objects of the Institution.

JAMES ARTHUR ANDERSON, eldest son of the late Mr. R. H. Anderson, of Baltinglass, CO. Wicklow, was born on the 31st July, 1843. After graduating in arts and engineering at TrinityCollege, Dublin, hewas appointed an Assistant Engineeron the East Indian Railway in 1866, and remained in theservice of that Company for five years, until, on the completion of the Chord line, the staffwas reduced. Mr. Anderson was then appointed an Assistant Engineer, first grade, in the Public Works Departmentof India inDecember, 1871, and was posted to the survey of the Northern Bengal State Railway, which, being divided from the Eastern Bengal Railway Company’s 5-feet 6-inch gauge line by the RiverGanges or Pudda (still unbridged), it wasdetermined to construct to the metre gauge. In December, 1876, Mr. Anderson attainedthe rank of Executive Engineer, fourth grade. He was on special leave from July, 1877, to January, 1878, and in June, 1882, when his sub- stantive rank was only that of Executive Engineer, second grade, he was appointed Superintendentof Works on the Northern Bengal State Railway. On his return from furlough at the endof 1883 he joined the Sind Pishin State Railway, and eighteen months later was transferred to the Indus Valley StateRailway. In July, 1884, the Eastern Bengal Railway, whichhad been acquired by the State, and the Northern Bengal State Railway were amalgamated under the style of the Eastern Bengal State Railway, of which Mr. Anderson was appointed Superintendent of Way and Works on his return from furlough in January, 1888. From October, 1890, till July, 1892, he was Engineer-in-Chief of theEashmir Railway Survey, and then rejoined theEastern