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Home , Abel (crater), Anthony Ledwith, Applied Catalysis Award, Bunsen (crater), Calder (crater), Charles Kemball

The Presidents of the & Royal Society of (1841–2024)

Contents

Introduction 04 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 07 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 34 Researching Past Presidents 45 Presidents by Date 47

Cover images (left to right): ; Sir Ewart Ray Herbert Jones; Professor ; The President’s Badge of Office Introduction meeting, votes were cast inperson;, votes are cast online. In 1841,thenumberofFellows was 77;in2021, membershiphadgrown to 50,000.At thefirst Annual General Meeting heldinJuly. elect then twoyears Theirtimeofoffice aspresident. starts from theRoyal Society ofChemistry’s twoyearsThe president aspresident iselected thenserve bienniallybythemembership, they election. inthisway.confirm theirwillingnessto Successful serve candidates are thenputforward for descriptor, whocan demonstrate therequisite skillsandexperience to fulfiltherole andwho Committee. Thecommittee produces alist ofcandidates whomeet therequirements ofthe role after thenominations havebeencalled andreceived, are evaluated they bytheNominations and are elected byother members.However, nowadays thecandidates undergo greater scrutiny; Little haschanged intheway presidents are elected; still they haveto beamemberoftheSociety enshrined, andthe‘DutyofPresident’ was stated: At thefirst AnnualGeneral Meeting thefollowing year, inMarch 1842,theBye Lawswere formally Society wouldbeorganised: The other maindecisionmadeat the30March meeting was onthesystem bywhichtheChemical that meeting, ThomasGraham was unanimouslyelected to betheSociety’s first president. already leant theirsupportmet at what wouldbetheChemical Society’s first officialmeeting; at a society ofmembersinterested intheadvancement ofchemistry. On30March, the77menwho’d On Tuesday 1841,ameeting was convened 23February byRobert Warington that resolved to form succession, butshallbere-eligible after thelapseof oneyear.” A Membershallnot beeligibleasPresident oftheSociety for more thantwoyears in proceedings. Meetings oftheSociety, at eighto’clock precisely, andto regulate theorder ofthe “To preside at allMeetings oftheSociety andCouncil.To take theChairat allordinary bywhomthebusinessofSocietywhom maybenon-resident, shallbeconducted.” four Vice-Presidents, aTreasurer, twoSecretaries, andaCounciloftwelve,four of membersshallelect outoftheirownbody,“That theordinary byballot, aPresident, 05 Introduction 06 Introduction 4. 3. 2. 1. Notes: • • • • • • • • The Presidents inbrief: amendments to [email protected] acknowledge there may besomepoints that could bedisputed. Please submitanysuggested effort has beenmadeto thoroughlyWhilst fact-check every thecontents ofthisbrochure, we the manuscript to theChemical Society whoengaged ofMoore to theservices complete it. time andhadwritten four chapters ofthisbookbythetimehisdeath in1941;hiswidowsent Tom Moore andJamesCharlesPhilip. Sidney Philipwas president oftheChemical Society at the Some oftheinformation inthisintroduction was taken from ‘TheChemical Society 1841–1941’by representation ofdiversegroups withinsociety at large andwithintheSocieties themselves. are includedto showhowfar we’ve come intheareas ofscience andinthe &technology In order to demonstrate thelengthoftimeboth Societies haveexisted, somehistoric milestones booklet. include thepresidents oftheother societies, untilthen,theirnames are listed at theback ofthe inorderSociety to ofChemistry provide amore linear oftheSociety. history Future versionscould Thisbookletpresident. onlyincludesthepresidents oftheChemical Society andthentheRoyal common for peopletovery bemembersofmore thanoneSociety, each Society hadits own Society. EachSociety represented adifferent aspect ofthechemical profession, thoughitwas Society, theSociety for , theRoyal Institute andtheFaraday ofChemistry In 1980,theRoyal was Society formed ofChemistry withtheamalgamation oftheChemical The first womanpresident was Professor Yellowlees Lesley in2012 (1st)Society ofChemistry Sir Ewart RayHerbertJoneswas president ofboth theChemical Society (64th)andtheRoyal One president diedinoffice, Professor JamesPhilipin1941 One president resigned (for health reasons), Professor in1926 ArthurCrossley Todd (1957),Lord Kroto (1967),SirDerek Barton (1996) (1969),SirHarry (1937),SirRobert Robinson (1947),SirCyril NormanHinshelwood(1956),Lord There are eightNobelLaureates amongthepast presidents: SirWilliamRamsay(1904),Walter Miller (8thand13th),Alexander Williamson(12thand15th)Warren delaRue(14thand20th) Four menwere president ofthe Chemical Society twice: ThomasGraham (1st and3rd), William Perkin Perkin Jnr. (23rd) andWilliamHenry (37th), WilliamHenry (38th) Two fathers Edward andsonshavebeen president: Frankland (16th)andPercy Frankland The youngest was ThomasGraham whowas 35whenhebecame president Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 08 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 1 • • • • • • (1805–1869) Thomas Graham Professor the Exchequer the office oftheChancellor of the role was amalgamated into ‘Master oftheMint’after which Last person to holdtheoffice of from hisstudies incolloids Discovered dialysis,resulting gases resulted in‘Graham’s Law’ His studies on thediffusionof Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Society (1st and3rd) Twice president oftheChemical inGlasgow 1841–1843 2 • • • • • (1773–1854) Arthur Aiken to Baltimore Morsefrom Washington telegraph message sent,by 24 May 1844|The first in 1807 Geological Society ofLondon One ofthefounders of the Hospital for 32years Lectured at onchemistry Guy’s Studied underJosephPriestley Society treasurer) ofthe Chemical A founder member(andfirst Born inWarrington 1843–1845 • (1805–1869) Thomas Graham Professor 3 anaesthesia successfully demonstrate Morton isthefirst personto 16 October 1846|William See entry for 1stSee entry president 1845–1847 4 Christian oath was lifted requirement to swear the seat until1858whenthe he was unableto take his UK’s first Jewish MP. However, de Rothschild becamethe 1847 |Baron LionelNathan • • • • • (1788–1866) William Brande Professor Royal and DieDepartment at the Superintendent ofthe Coining 20 years Lectured withFaraday for George III Son ofaformer apothecary to Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Born inSt James’s, 1847–1849 5 • • • • • (1778–1851) Richard Phillips Professor Erhart inBrooklyn, New Charles Pfizer andCharles 1849 |Pfizer founded by Practical , Jermyn Street Curator oftheMuseum at St Thomas’s Hospital CollegeMilitary Sandhurst and London Hospital, at theRoyal Lectured at inchemistry the modern analytical pronounced himoneofthefirst Dr ThomasThomson Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Born intheCityofLondon 1849–1851 6 • • • • • • • (1795–1867) Charles Daubeny Professor to thepublic transforming heopeneditup it, (now Botanic) Garden. After Lived intheOxford Physic Daubenyana named after him,Nymphaea Has atypeofwaterlily , botanist andgeologist University of Professor at of Chemistry the Association President oftheBritish Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Born inStratton, Gloucestershire 1851–1853 09 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 10 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 7 Burlington House pump inSoho, halfamilefrom the source to asingle water people. DrJohnSnow traced in London killed10,000 1854 |Anepidemicofcholera • • • • (1799–1874) Philip JamesYorke Colonel Chemist and mineralogist Crimean War Appointed Colonelduringthe Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Born inEngland 1853–1855 8 synthetic dye invented Mauveine, thefirst 1856 |William Perkin • • • • • (1817–1870) Allen Miller Professor William after himin1935 part ofthemoonwas named The Millercrater onthesouthern analysis elements instars usingspectral in theirattempts to identify the withWilliamHuggins, his work, Royal Astronomical Society for Received aGoldMedalfrom the Society (8thand13th) Twice president oftheChemical Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Born inIpswich 1855–1857 9 • • • • • • • • (1818–1898) Lord Lyon Playfair Commons in1892 upon leaving theHouseof and ennobledasBaron Playfair MP for Leeds Southfrom 1868 Burlington House move from Square to Oversaw theChemical Society’s Survey Chemist to theGeological alongside Giessen; undertook Studied underJustus Liebigat Livingstone student ofDavid assistant to ThomasGraham Studied underandbecame lab Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Born inMeerut, 1857–1859 10 the Species’ Charles ’s ‘The Originof 1859 |The publication of • • • • Brodie Sir BenjaminCollins Fellowship oftheRoyal Society for whichhewas given a Did originalanalysisofbeeswax Giessen Studied underJustus Liebigat Royal Society surgeon andpresident ofthe His father was Britain’s leading Piccadilly Born inSackvilleStreet, 1859–1861 (1817–1880) 11 • • • • • Hofmann Wilhelm von Professor August Chemical Society (GDCh) co-founder oftheGerman to Germany andin1867was Chemical Society, hereturned inspired by thesuccess ofthe After hispresidency, and College ofChemistry First Director oftheRoyal industry lay thebasis oftheaniline-dye Perkin, helped Sir WilliamHenry His research onaniline,with Giessen Studied underJustus Liebigat Born inGiessen,Germany 1861–1863 (1818–1892) 12 the Pasteurisation process 1864 | invents • • • • • • (1824–1904) William Williamson Professor Alexander etherification of thetheory Developed semi-paralysed inhisleftarm Was and blindinhisrighteye guidance to London to study underhis Choshu ClaninJapan came In 1863,five students from the Society (12thand15th) Twice president oftheChemical Giessen at andLiebigat Studied underLeopold Gmelin Born inWandsworth, London 1863–1865

11 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 12 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 13 by Congress in theUnited States ispassed Amendment abolishingslavery 31 January1865|The 13th • (1817–1870) William AllenMiller Professor See entry for 8thpresident See entry 1865–1867 14 • • • • • • (1815–1889) Dr Warren delaRue DeLaRue company His father, Thomas,founded the after him north-east ofthemoonisnamed The DeLaRuecrater onthe stereograph images and madethefirst lunar using theKew Photoheliograph to photograph thesolareclipse travelled to Rivabellosa inSpain . InJuly1860,he Pioneer inastronomical Chemical Society A founder memberofthe Society (14thand20th) Twice president oftheChemical Born inGuernsey 1867–1869 15 Table by Mendeleev 1869 |Creation ofthePeriodic • (1824–1904) William Williamson Professor Alexander See entry for 12thpresident See entry 1869–1871 16 expedition large–scale oceanographic undertakes theworld’s first 1872–1876 |HMSChallenger • • • • • • • Frankland Sir Edward

Pierre JulesCesarJanssen with SirNormanLockyer and Discovered (andnamed) One oftheoriginators of chemistry combining power (valence) in Originated theconcept of president) Father ofPercy Frankland (37th (1851) atChemistry Owen’s College, Became thefirst Professor of Institute (1877–1880) ofChemistry First president oftheRoyal Lancaster Born inChurchtown, near 1871–1873 (1825–1899) 17 • • • • • Odling Professor William demonstrator there Hospital andlater became a Studied medicineat Guy’s of thePeriodic Table Contributed to thedevelopment (1883–1888) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute at theRoyal Institution Fullerian Professor ofChemistry LondonBorn inSouthwark, 1873–1875 (1829–1921) 18 successful telephone call Graham Bellmadethefirst 10 1876 |Alexander • • • • • (1827–1902) Augustus Sir Frederick Electrical Engineers President oftheInstitution of withSirJamesDewar explosives; in1889,heinvented An expert inthefieldof (1880–1883) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute in 1845 whenitfirstChemistry opened at theRoyal College of One oftheoriginal26students Born inLondon 1875–1877

13 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 14 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 19 the phonograph 1877 |Thomas invented • • • • • • • • • • (1827–1902) Professor JohnHallGladstone Institution Fullerian Professor at ofChemistry theRoyal Lecturer at onChemistry St Thomas’s Hospital Closely related to Lord Kelvin, by marriage lived withherhusband Ramsay MacDonald near herhomeinLincoln’s InnFieldswhere she’d erected inherhonourfor herwork onsocialreform His daughter, Margaret MacDonald hadastatue Sat ontheRoyal CommissiononLighthouses An originalFellow oftheInstitute ofChemistry Institute ofPhysics)in1874 First president ofthePhysical Society (now the and thenunderLiebigat Giessen Studied underThomasGraham at University College London Williams, at thefounding meeting oftheYMCAin In 1844,was oneofthe12men,withGeorge Born inHackney, London 1877–1879 20 • (1815–1889) Dr Warren delaRue See entry for 15thpresident See entry 1879–1880 21 the incandescent lightbulb Edison received thepatent for 27 January1880|Thomas • • • • • • • • Roscoe Sir HenryEnfield Chemical Industry President oftheSociety of Uncle ofBeatrix Potter and photochemical studies Noted for hiswork onvanadium Owen’s College, Manchester Professor at of Chemistry (1885–1895) MP for Manchester South Bunsen Studied andworked with after him The mineral Roscoelite isnamed Born inLondon 1880–1882 (1833–1915) 22 • • • • Gilbert Sir JosephHenry with SirJohnBennet Lawes Experimental Station in1843, Established Rothamsted Thomson of underThomas Worked at theUniversity Studied underLiebigat Giessen Born inHull 1882–1883 (1817–1901) 23 vaccine against rabies developed thefirst successful July 1885|Louis Pasteur • • • • • Perkin Sir William Henry 1907 (diedinoffice) President oftheFaraday Society, Perkin Jnr. (38thpresident) Father ofSirWilliam Henry coal-tar colour industry later ledto thefoundation ofthe dye (at age 18)which Discovered Mauveine, thefirst Hofmann later worked withProfessor Studied underand chemistry Born inLondon 1883–1885 (1838–1907)

15 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 16 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 24 by agasengine.’ patented his‘vehicle powered 29 January1886|Karl Benz • • • • • • (1833–1915) Dr HugoMüller

public concern orenterprise.’ take anypart intheaffairs, ofany position to beamemberorto not desirable for aperson inmy his nationality, stating that ‘itis Chemical Society in1915dueto Resigned asaFellow ofthe stamps lithographic colour printingfor & Co. helpingto the develop Worked at Messrs. DeLaRue assistant to Warren delaRue Hofmann andbecame private Invited to London by Professor Assistant to Justus Liebig andgeology Studied chemistry, , Born inTirschenreuth, Bavaria 1885–1887 25 • • • • • • (1832–1919) Sir William the ballpointpen 1888 |JohnJ. Loud patented News’ Founder andeditor of‘Chemical in1861 Discovered theelement the Invented theCrookes Tube and Pioneer ofvacuum tubes College ofChemistry Professor Hofmannat theRoyal Studied under, thenassisted, Born inRegent Street, London 1887–1889 26 • • • • Russell Dr William James continued inthefuture’. recommend that theseriesbe [Chemical] Society, andstrongly the Past Presidents ofthe photographs ofall ‘institute aseriesofpermanent in 1882that Councildecided to It was at DrRussell’s suggestion original Fellow (1894–1897),and of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute Manchester atChemistry Owen’s College, The first Demonstrator in Born inGloucester 1889–1891 (1830–1909) 27 became theUK’s first AsianMP 6 July1892 |DadabhaiNaoroji • • • • • • (1838–1922) Crum Professor Alexander

models ofinterlocking surfaces later life he knitted mathematical knitting machineasachild,in knitting havinginvented a Had alifelong fascination for of Indianchemistry) (thefather Taught JamesDewar and University of chemical at pharmacy the Professor and of chemistry Marburg Heidelberg thenwithKolbe at Worked underBunsenat London University in1862 the Doctorate ofScience from The first candidate to beawarded Born inEdinburgh 1891–1893 28 women’s suffrage country intheworld to enact Zealand becamethefirst 19 September 1893 |New • • • • • (1848–1937) Edward Professor Henry his death council from theage of15until A memberofChemical Society A pioneerinorganic impurities indrinkingwater method ofdetermining organic a developed Chemistry At theRoyal College of Frankland Studied underEdward Born inLewisham, London 1893–1895 29 discovered radioactivity 1896 |HenriBecquerel • • • • • • Harcourt George Vernon Professor Augustus Harcourt Pentane-air Lamp Chloroform Regulator andthe Invented theHarcourt quantitative work inthefieldof One ofthefirst scientists to do Taught at Christ Church, Oxford the Looking Glass’ White Knightin‘Alice Through have beenaninspiration for the Oxford; Harcourt to isbelieved Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) whilst at Became afriendofCharles Church, Oxford Harcourts’ mentor at Christ Sir BenjaminBrodie was Born inChelsea, London 1895–1897 (1834–1919)

17 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 18 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 30 Morris Travers discovered 1898 | and • • • • • • (1842–1923) Sir JamesDewar the Moonnamedafter him Has acrater onthefar sideof CorditeDeveloped with (Thermos) Invented theDewar Flask assistant to, Lyon Playfair Taught by, andlater became Chemist andphysicist Born inKincardine, 1897–1899 31 • • • • • Thorpe Sir Thomas Edward 1909 introduction ofatax onpetrol in Spirit’ for DavidLloyd George’s Invented thephrase ‘Motor Laboratory at Clement’s Inn Designed theGovernment Glasgow the Andersonian Institution, Professor at ofChemistry Assistant Roscoe to Henry Born inManchester 1899–1901 (1845–1925) 32 Nobel Prizes awarded 10 December 1901 |First • • • • (1844–1920) Emerson Reynolds Professor James 1869 Discovered Thiocarbamide in College, atChair ofChemistry Trinity Dublin Royal College ofSurgeons, Professor at ofChemistry the Born inDublin 1901–1903 33 Chemical Society female Honorary andForeign Fellow ofthe 8 May 1904|MarieCurieadmitted as thefirst Orville &Wilbur Wright 17 December 1903 |First controlled flight,by • • • • (1842–1926) Sir William Augustus Tilden rubber) could bemadefrom Turpentine Discovered that Isoprene (aprecursor to synthetic Dean oftheRoyal College ofScience (1891–1894) President oftheRoyal Institute ofChemistry Born inLondon 1903–1905 34 • • • • • • • (1849–1915) Professor RaphaelMeldola published 1905 |’s SpecialTheory ofRelativity Discovered thedye ‘MeldolaBlue’ (1912–1915) President oftheRoyal Institute ofChemistry (1908–1909) President oftheSociety ofChemical Industry Islands eclipse expedition to Camorta intheNicobar In April1875,hetook charge oftheRoyal Society Assistant to JosephNormanLockyer Son oftheChiefRabbi ofLondon Born inIslington, London 1905–1907

19 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 20 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 35 • • • • • • (1852–1916) Sir William Ramsay gender identity full legalrecognition oftheir the first trans peopleto gain Germany, becameoneof 1907 |Karl M.Baer, from the periodicsystem’ determination oftheirplace in gaseous elements inair, andhis in thediscovery oftheinert ‘In recognition ofhisservices inChemistry, 1904 Chemistry Original Fellow oftheInstitute of andxenon Isolated , helium,neon, Professor at ofChemistry UCL Heidelberg Worked underBunsenat Born inGlasgow 1907–1909 36 • • • • • • • Dixon Professor Harold Society (1923–1925) Literary andPhilosophical President oftheManchester World War the HomeOffice during theFirst explosion ingases, working with Specialised intherate of accepted in1886 students to hislectures, thiswas admission ofwomen chemistry Oxford andadvocated for the Worked at BalliolCollege, College Manchester Professor at of Chemistry Owens Wanderers. lost They 2–0 FAever Cup Final,against University AFC inthesecond played asaforward for Oxford Amateur footballer; in1873, Church, Oxford Vernon Harcourt at Christ Studied underAugustus George London Born inMarylebone, 1909–1911 (1852–1930) 37 Prize for Chemistry first woman to winaNobel 1911 |MarieCuriebecamethe using a‘’ experiment identified theatomic nucleus 1911 |Ernest • • • • • (1858–1946) Faraday Frankland Professor Percy Committee Anti-Gas andChemical Warfare Inventions Board andthe War includingtheAdmiralty boards duringtheFirst World onanumberof Served University of Professor inthe of Chemistry (1906–1909) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute (16th president) Son ofSirEdward Frankland Born inLondon 1911–1913 38 • • • • • Perkin Jnr. Sir William Henry at Manchester University Professor of Organic Chemistry Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh Professor at of Chemistry in Worked underAdolfvon Baeyer (23rd president) Perkin Son ofSirWilliamHenry Born inSudbury, Middlesex 1913–1915 (1860–1929) 39 Urbana-Champaign University of Illinoisat the , from the attain aPhDinchemistry in the first African American to 1916 |St. ElmoBrady became • • • • (1853–1947) Dr Alexander Scott the Tut-ankh-Amun relics advise onthepreservation of worked withHoward Carter to In 1923,visited Luxor and Laboratory Director ofBritishMuseum Established andbecame First WorldWar Underground duringthe being stored intheLondon said to have deteriorated after the BritishMuseumthat were the conditions ofobjects at intoConducted aninquiry ScotlandBorn inSelkirk, 1915–1917 40 not take herseat as amemberofSinnFein, did woman elected asanMPbut, Markievicz becamethefirst December 1918|Constance the UK women therightto vote in Act gave allmenandsome Representation ofthePeople 6 February 1918|The • • • • • Sir William Jackson President ofIUPAC (1922–1925) Chemical (1920–1921) Industry President oftheSociety of Armstrong Worked closelywithHenry University ofCambridge Professor at ofChemistry the Born inLondon 1917–1919 (1870–1939)

21 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 22 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 41 • • • • Dobbie Sir JamesJohnston oftheChemicalSociety admitted for thefirst timeas 10 February 1920 |Women are of Chemistry (1915–1918) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute World War Committee duringtheFirst and theNitrogen Products Committee of theWar Cabinet Worked ontheResearch Museum inEdinburgh Director ofthe Royal Scottish Born inGlasgow 1919–1921 (1852–1924) 42 Tut-ankh-Amun’s tomb enter theantechamber of Carter andLord Carnarvon 26 November 1922 |Howard • • • • (1863–1935) Sir JamesWalker at the University ofEdinburgh University College, Dundeethen Professor in of Chemistry War Craigleith duringtheFirst World Manager ofH.M.Factory, F.W. Ostwald inLeipzig the University ofEdinburgh and with, Alexander Crum-Brown at Studied under, andlater worked Born inDundee 1921–1923 43 • • • • (1861–1950) Palmer Wynne Professor William the University ofSheffield Dean oftheFaculty ofScience in ofnaphthalene chemistry Undertook onthe ArmstrongHenry Private research assistant to Born inStafford 1923–1925 44 • • • • (1869–1927) William Crossley Professor Arthur ill health Chemical Society early dueto Resigned aspresident ofthe Porton experimentalthe new station in R.E.inchargeLieut.-Colonel of Warfare andlater Service as Committee oftheChemical as Secretary to theAdvisory During the First World War, acted at KingsCollege London Professor ofOrganic Chemistry Born inAccrington 1925–1926 45 • • • • (1862–1935) Brereton Baker Professor Herbert Institution of television, at theRoyal first publicdemonstration Logie Baird gave theworld’s 26 January1926 |John the ‘Phenate Helmet’ War, thehelmet was known as gas attacks intheFirst World by theGermansintheirpoison absorb thephosgene deployed Discovered acompound to Department at ImperialCollege Director oftheChemistry at BalliolCollege, Oxford assistant to, Harold BailyDixon Taught by, andthenbecame Born inBlackburn 1926–1928 46 • • • • • Thorpe Sir Jocelyn Field discovered 28 September 1928 |Alexander same voting rightsasmen Act intheUKgave women the 1928 |The Equalities Franchise and theThorpe-Ingold Effect Discovered theThorpe Reaction (1933–1936) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute Defence Committee a memberoftheChemical During theFirst WorldWar was Manchester Perkin Jnr. at Owen’s College, Worked underProfessor William Born inLondon 1928–1931 (1872–1940) 23 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 24 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 47 • • • • • (1862–1942) Gerald Henderson Professor George of Chemistry (1924–1927) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute Chemical (1914) Industry President oftheSociety of balata, andgutta-percha ofIndiarubber,the chemistry sesquiterpene and chemistry of terpene hydrocarbons, An authorityonthechemistry the University ofGlasgow Regius Professor at ofChemistry Born inGlasgow 1831–1833

48 • • • • Morgan Sir GilbertThomas during theFirst WorldWar Chemical Warfare Committee Associate Memberofthe the University ofBirmingham Mason Professor at ofChemistry London the Royal College ofScience, Assistant to WilliamTildenat Born inEssendon,Hertfordshire 1933–1935 (1870–1940) 49 • • • • (1873–1952) Vincent Sidgwick Professor Nevil (1932–1934) President oftheFaraday Society First WorldWar ofMunitionsduringthe Ministry Explosive Suppliesofthe Consultant at theDept. of ofSirBenjaminBrodieNephew Born inOxford 1935–1937 50 • • • • • (1870–1956) George Donnan Sir Frederick The Gibbs-Donnan Effect)The Gibbs-Donnan The DonnanEquilibrium (aka member (1924–1926), andfounder President oftheFaraday Society A pupilofSirWilliamRamsay a childhoodaccident astheresultBlind inoneeye of Born inColumbo, SriLanka 1937–1939 51 • • • • • (1886–1975) Sir Robert Robinson to bediscovered naturally occurring element element Francium, thelast Perey discovered the 7 January1939 |Marguerite penicillin structures ofmorphineand Discovered themolecular organic synthesis Known for of thedevelopment alkaloids’ importance, especiallythe on plantproducts ofbiological (1947) ‘for hisinvestigations Nobel Prize for Chemistry intheUniversityChemistry of of Pure andAppliedOrganic Appointed thefirst Professor Born inRufford, Derbyshire 1939–1941 52 • • • • • (1873–1941) Charles Philip Professor James Chemical Society becoming president ofthe Died inoffice, sixmonthsafter Chemical Industry President oftheSociety of following year were admitted asFellows the resolution passed andwomen the sameterms ofmen’. The be admitted to theSociety on Society ‘That women should 1919 at anEGMoftheChemical Proposed aresolution on8May at ImperialCollege Professor ofPhysical Chemistry Born inFordoun, Scotland 1941 25 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 26 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 53 • • • • • Mills William Hobson be accepted as Fellows Society requesting that women to sign aletter to theChemical one ofthe19female chemists May Gostling. In1904,shewas Married fellow chemist Mildred Lecturer at JesusCollege, Sir JamesDewar Worked asademonstrator for Sidgwick Friend andcolleague ofNevil Born inLondon 1941–1944 (1873–1959) 54 the Second World War work at Bletchley Park during Fourth Class (OBE) for his insigniaofthe was awarded theOrder ofthe 13 June1946|AlanTuring • • • • • Haworth Sir Walter Norman on paper dimensional structure ofsugar representing thethree- Projection, a method for theHaworthDeveloped Dobbie the daughter ofSirJames Married Violet Chilton Dobbie, andvitamin C’ (1937) ‘for hisinvestigations on Nobel Prize inChemistry College Sir Edward Thorpeat Imperial Senior Demonstrator under Born inChorley 1944–1946 (1883–1950) 55 • • • • • (1897–1967) Hinshelwood Sir Cyril Norman Columbia University a PhDinchemistry, from American woman to attain became thefirst African 1947 |MarieMaynard (1961–1962) President oftheFaraday Society of chemical reactions’ researches into themechanism Nikolaevich Semenov ‘for their awarded jointly withNikolay Nobel Prize (1956); inChemistry President oftheRoyal Society War Supply duringtheSecond World Defence Board of oftheMinistry Worked ontheChemical Born inLondon 1946–1948 56 • • • • Heilbron Sir IanMorris London atChemistry theUniversity of Emeritus Professor ofOrganic the Second WorldWar ofProductionMinistry during ofSupplyandthe Ministry Was ascientificadvisorat the of Lieutenant Colonel First WorldWar, gained therank Greece for thearmyduring Assistant Director ofSuppliesin Born inGlasgow 1948–1950 (1886–1959) 57 • • • • • Rideal Sir EricKeightley Nobel Prize (for peace) the first blackpersonto wina 1950 |RalphBunchebecame Chemical (1945–1946) Industry President oftheSociety of (1938–1945) President oftheFaraday Society supplies to theAustralian troops the waterSomme to supervise respirator. Healsowent to the ofthegason thedevelopment worked withEdward Harrison During theFirst WorldWar, Professor AnschutzinBonn Studied for his PhDunder Born inSydenham 1950–1952 (1890–1974) 58 • • • • Ingold Sir Christopher Kelk the structure ofDNA Rosalind discovered Crick, and 1953 of Chemistry atof Chemistry UCL Imperial College thenProfessor Lecturer inOrganic at Chemistry Thorpe at ImperialCollege Worked withJocelyn Field chemistry oforganicelectronic theory One ofthefounders ofthe Born inForest Gate, London |JamesWatson, Francis 1952–1954 (1893–1970) 27 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 28 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 59 • • • • • Wardlaw Professor William London Professor at BirkbeckCollege Frankland Worked underPercy Faraday (1957–1958) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute Committee War Cabinet ScientificAdvisory he was jointsecretary ofthe During theSecond WorldWar Born inNewcastle-on-Tyne 1954–1956 (1892–1958) 60 Sputnik 1 4 October 1957 |Launchof • • • • Hirst Sir Edmund Langley Dean ofScience at Edinburgh Second WorldWar ofSupplyduringthe the Ministry onseveralServed committees of at University Professor ofOrganic Chemistry Born inPreston 1956–1958 (1898–1975) 61 • • • • (1903–1993) Julius Emeleus Professor Harry at Cambridge University Professor of Organic Chemistry (1963–1965) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute on hexafluoride the Second WorldWar for work Project at Oak Ridge, US during Seconded to theManhattan Born inLondon 1958–1960

62 • • • • • (1907–1997) Robertus Todd Lord Alexander space became thefirst humanin 12 April1961 |Yuri Gagarin Trumpington in1962 Was madeBaron Todd of Association President oftheBritish President ofIUPAC nucleotide co-enzymes’ ‘for hiswork onnucleotides and Nobel Prize for (1957) Chemistry Born inGlasgow 1960–1962

63 • • • • (1900–1989) Monteath Robertson Professor John Washington DC of theLincoln Memorialin Dream’ speechonthesteps King Jnr. gave his‘IHave a 28 August 1963 |MartinLuther woman to travel in space Tereshkova becamethefirst 16 June1963 |Valentina (1942–1970) at the University ofGlasgow Gardiner ChairofChemistry War Force during theSecond World Scientific advisorto theRoyal Air structure by X-ray diffraction the elucidation ofmolecular for hispioneeringresearch on Gained international recognition Born inAuchterarder, Scotland 1962–1964 64 (in Chemistry) woman to winaNobelPrize became thefirst British 1964 | • • • • • (1911–2002) Herbert Jones Sir Ewart Ray Royal Society ofChemistry Society andfirst president ofthe 64th president oftheChemical (1970–1972) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute atChemistry Oxford University Waynflete Professor of during theSecond WorldWar Was aGasOfficer inLondon Born inWrexham 1964–1966 29 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 30 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 65 andWales partially decriminalisedhomosexuality in 27 July 1967 |The Sexual Offences Act • • • • • • (1908–2000) Sir HarryWork London College,Principal University ofQueenMary of Chairman oftheScience Research Council Professor at ofChemistry theUniversity ofAberdeen President oftheFaraday Society (1958and 1960) Chemical Defence duringtheSecond WorldWar Scientific Advisorto theChiefSuperintendent of Born inEdinburgh 1966–1968 66 first humanto setfoot onthemoon 20 July1969 |NeilArmstrong becamethe catalyst for theglobalgay rightsmovement the Stonewall InninNew York Cityactasthe 28 June1969 |Riotsfollowing apolice raid on • • • • (1917–1971) Sir Ronald Sydney Nyholm in Chemistry’ Played aleading role inthelaunchof‘Education Professor ofInorganic at Chemistry UCL SouthWalesof New (1954) President oftheRoyal Society Born inBroken Hill, 1968–1970 67 • • • • • (1920–2002) Lord George Porter Baron Porter of Luddenham Director oftheRoyal Institution state by flashphotolysis The first to detect thetriplet energy’ shortpulsesof means ofvery disturbing the equilibriumby chemical reactions, effected by their studies ofextremely fast Ronald NorrishandPorter ‘for (1967) jointlyawarded to Nobel Prize inChemistry Born inStainforth, Yorkshire 1970–1972 68 • • • • • • • (1914–1997) Sydney Dainton Lord Frederick Moors in1986 Named Baron Dainton ofHallam Board Chairman oftheBritishLibrary schoolsintheUK secondary Author ofTheDainton Report on Leeds Chair ofPhysical at Chemistry Chancellor oftheUniversity of (1965–1966) President oftheFaraday Society Born inSheffield 1972–1973 69 • • • • (1918–1998) Richard Barton Sir Derek Harold McCombie is namedafter himand Stuart deoxygenation organic reaction The Barton-McCombie in chemistry’ conformation andits application oftheconceptdevelopment of for their‘contributions to the awarded jointly withOddHassel Nobel Prize (1969) inChemistry the University ofGlasgow Regius Professor at ofChemistry Born inGravesend 1973–1974

31 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 32 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) 70 openly lesbianMP Colquhoun becamethefirst February 1974 |Maureen • • • • Barrett Dr JackWheeler (1971–1972) President ofIChemE Monsanto Director ofResearch at perfumes formulations ofessences and Essence CoLtd working onthe Worked at theLondon Born inCheltenham 1974–1975 (1912–1998) 71 is heldon8March International Women’s Day United Nations, since then Year declared by the 1975 • • • • Robinson Frank Director ofTwyford Laboratories Harburys Director ofResearch at Allen& (1972–1974) of Chemistry President oftheRoyal Institute Yorkshire Born inHolywell Green, |International Women’s 1975–1976 (1907–1988) 72 • • • • (1913–1994) Clifford Addison Professor Cyril (1946–1978) at University Professor of of Supply(1939–1945) Inspection Department, Ministry Member oftheChemical Inorganic chemist Born inPlumpton, Cumbria 1976–1977 73 • • • • Johnson Woodworth Professor Alan to were still transmitting data August 2012. Asof2021, both interstellar space on25 2 launched.Voyager 1reached 1977 |Voyager 1andVoyager 20 August and5September andpheromones’ germination factors andinsect B12porphyrins,plant of natural products including contributions to thechemistry recognition ofhisdistinguished Won theDavyMedalin1980‘In University of Professor at of Chemistry the Cambridge to work withLord Todd in Obtained anICIFellowship Born inNewcastle-upon-Tyne 1977–1978 (1917–1982) 74 • • • • • Sugden Sir Theodore Morris time, inSanFrancisco rainbow flag flew for thefirst 25 June1978 |GilbertBaker’s Safety CommitteeAdvisory onNuclear Chairman oftheGovernment Master ofTrinity Hall Thornton Research Centre Director ofResearch at theShell weapons ofvarious calibres eliminating gunflashfrom War, worked onmethods for During theSecond World Born inTriangle, Yorkshire 1978–1979 (1919–1984) 75 • • • • (1917–1982 Dr Alfred Spinks first female PrimeMinister Thatcher becametheUK’s 4 May 1979 |Margaret and Development Council for AppliedResearch Chairman oftheAdvisory Director drugs; helater became Research ofcardiovasculardevelopment At ICI,heworked onthe Society (1979–1980) Final president oftheChemical Born inLittleport, 1979–1980 ) 33 Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 1 program flight inNASA’s Space Shuttle 12 April1981|The first orbital eradicated globally disease to becompletely to bethefirst and,sofar, only Organisation declared smallpox 8 May 1980|The World Health • (1911–2002) Herbert Jones Sir Ewart Ray the Chemical Society for 64thpresident of See entry 1980–1982 2 Cadogan John Ivan George Professor Sir • • • • • Knighted in1991 system in theEnglishcriminaljustice widespread useofDNAanalysis Instrumental infacilitating the (1981–1992) Director ofResearch at BP bears hisname cyclisation reaction that now Discovered theindole-forming Born inPembrey, 1982–1984 (1930–2020) 3 fingerprinting Jeffreys discovered DNA 11 September 1984 |Alec • • • • • (1932–1993) Professor Sir Knighted in1987 ofDefenceMinistry (1983–1988) Chief ScientificAdvisorto the the University ofYork The first Head at ofChemistry (1978–1980) Institute ofChemistry Final president oftheRoyal Born inLondon 1984–1986 35 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 36 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 4 MP became thefirst female 11 June1987 |DianeAbbott • • • • (1928–2014) Lord JackLewis 1989 Named Baron in ofNewnham 1975 College whenitwas founded in The first Warden of Robinson years atChemistry Cambridge for 25 The 1970Inorganic Professor of Born inLancashire 1986–1988 5 • • • (1921–2014) Mason Ward Professor John World Wide Web wrote hisfirst proposal for the March 1989 |Tim Berners-Lee repealed on18September 2003 put onto thestatute books; May 1988|Section28was University of Surrey ProfessorHonorary at the House inCambridge its mainsite at ThomasGraham majority ofthesociety’s staff to Oversaw themove ofthe Laboratory Central Electricity Research Was Head at ofChemistry the 1988–1990 6 • • • • • • Richards Sir Rex Edward nuclear magnetic Knighted in1977for to services Director oftheLeverhulme Trust (1982–1998) Chancellor oftheUniversity of of Oxford (1977–1981) Vice-Chancellor oftheUniversity Oxford (1969–1984) Warden ofMerton College, Born inColyton, 1990–1992 (1922–2019) 7 • • • • Rees Professor CharlesWayne Hofmann Professor ofOrganic at Chemistry of Liverpool Professor ofOrganic at Chemistry theUniversity of Leicester Professor ofOrganic at Chemistry theUniversity Born inCairo, 1992–1994 (1927–2006) 8 election ofNelsonMandelaaspresident marking theendofapartheidand to participate inelectionsfor thefirst time 27 April 1994|BlackSouthAfricans able • • • • Purnell Professor JohnHoward Society ofChemistry Vice-President oftheFaraday DivisionoftheRoyal Professor ofPhysical at Chemistry Hall, Cambridge Director ofStudies intheNatural Sciences at Trinity Born intheRhondda,SouthWales 1994–1996 (1925–1996) 37 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 38 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 9 first openlygay CabinetMinister first MuslimMPandChrisSmithbecamethe the Cabinet,MohammedSarwar becamethe visually impaired personto holdapositionin May 1997 | Blunkett becamethefirst • • • • • William Abel Professor Edward Awarded aCBEin1997‘for to services Chemistry’ Awarded theRSC TildenPrize in1980 Imperial College Exeter (1972–1997),now Emeritus Professor ofInorganic Chemistry, University of Born inKenfig Hill,SouthWales 1996–1998 10 • • • • (1933–2015) Professor Head Department oftheChemistry at the Director ofPilkington at theUniversity ofLiverpool Brown Professor ofIndustrial Chemistry Born inWigan 1998–2000 11 legalize same-sex marriage became thefirst country intheworld to 19 December 2000 |The Netherlands • • • • • • • • Professor Steven Victor Ley Appointed CBEin2002for to services chemistry Award from theAmerican Chemical Society First recipient intheUKofArthurC.Cope Medical Sciences Fellow oftheRoyal Society, Fellow ofAcademy of Published 900papers flow techniques inmulti-step organic synthesis Pioneered theuseofimmobilisedreagents and Expert inthefieldoftotal synthesisof of Cambridge, Fellow ofTrinity College Professor ofOrganic at Chemistry theUniversity Born inStamford, Lincolnshire 2000–2002 • • • • • (1939–2016) Professor SirHarold Kroto 12 female blackCabinetmember May 2003 |Valerie becamethefirst completed April 2003 |The HumanGenomeProject black Cabinetmember May 2002 | becamethefirst Knighted in1996for to services chemistry the ‘Breaky Bottom Kroto’ Cuvée SirHarry His friendPeter Hall,namedawine after him, discovery offullerenes’ 1996 withProfessors Curl ‘for &Smalley their Awarded theNobelPrize in inChemistry ’s (C60) Discovered athird form ofcarbon, Born inWisbech 2002–2004 39 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 40 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 13 • • • • • • • • • • Sir SimonCampbell chemistry Awarded aKnighthoodin2015for to services Awarded aCBEin2006for to services science RSC-BCMS HallofFame, Herschberg Award (ACS) Discovery, RSC-BCMS Lifetime Award, Achievement Awards includetheSirJamesBlackAward for Drug Medical Sciences Fellow oftheRoyal Society andtheAcademy of (Viagra) Played aleading role inthediscovery ofSildenafil Invented thedrugsDoxazosin andAmlodipine Medicinals R&Dat Pfizer inSandwich Senior Vice-President for World-wideDiscovery and Professor Universidade deSaoPaulo Stanford (USA) Studied inBirmingham,Valparaiso (Chile)and Born inLapal, Halesowen 2004–2006 14 • • • • Professor WJamesFeast polymeric materials’ implications, particularly for thefieldoffunctional contributions to chemical synthesis withfar reaching Awarded aRoyal ‘for hisoutstanding chemistry’ Awarded aCBEin2007‘for to services polymer and Eindhoven University ofTechnology Emeritus Research Professor at DurhamUniversity Born inBirmingham 2006–2008 15 president oftheUnited States inaugurated asthefirst African American 20 January2009|Barack Obama Collider was started for thefirst time 10 September 2008|The Large Hadron • • • • • Professor CDavid Garner Award andtheLudwig MondLectureship Chatt Lectureship, theInorganic Recipient oftheRSC TildenMedal,theJoseph Nottingham Professor at ofChemistry theUniversity of Institute ofTechnology Studied at Nottingham University andCalifornia Inorganic Chemistry Founding president oftheSociety ofBiological Born inWilmslow, Cheshire UK 2008–2010 16 female MuslimMPs Mahmood &Yasmin Qureshi becamethefirst 6 May 2010 |Rushanara Ali,Shabana in theUK 2010 |The introduction ofThe Equalities Act • • • • • • Professor Appointed CBEin2012for to services chemistry Appointed Fellow oftheRoyal Society in2015 communication 1999 Faraday Medal,Royal Society for science andphotophysics Professor Emeritus(2006–present), Research in London (1989–2002),Dean ofSciences (2002–2006), Hofmann Professor ImperialCollege ofChemistry Institution (1980–1989),DeputyDirector (1986–1989) Wolfson Professor ofNatural PhilosophytheRoyal Born inKendal 2010–2012

41 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 42 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 17 couples to belegally marriedintheUK Cabreza becameone ofthefirst samesex 29 March 2014 |Peter McGraith andDavid observed, at CERN 4 July2012 |The HiggsBosonparticlefirst • • • • • • • Professor Lesley Yellowlees and CBEinthe2014for to services chemistry Appointed MBEin2005for to services science First female President oftheRSC throughout STEM Champion ofequality, diversity andinclusion spectroelectrochemical techniques Research focused insitu ondeveloping Chemistry First female president oftheRoyal Society of and Engineeringat theUniversity ofEdinburgh Head andtheCollege ofChemistry ofScience Born inLondon, lived mostly inEdinburgh 2012–2014 18 British ChineseMP 7 May 2015 |AlanMakbecamethefirst • • • • • • • Professor DominicTildesley and industry Awarded theCBEin2014for to services science and medal Recipient oftheMarlow medal,theTilden lecture Switzerland Molecular Calculations (CECAM)at theEPFLin Director oftheEuropean Center for Atomic and Care Business Chief Scientist for Unilever’s HomeandPersonal Southampton University andImperialCollege Lecturer andProfessor ofChemical Physicsat University Oxford, andPennsylvania State Studied at Universities ofSouthampton and Born inLondon 2014–2016 19 • • • • • Professor SirJohnHolman Knighted in2010for to services education 2005 Founded theNational Science Learning Centre, from 11-year oldsto undergraduates teaching background. Taught at chemistry allages First RSC president to come from aschool of York Emeritus Professor at ofChemistry theUniversity Born inBath 2016–2018 20 the centre ofgalaxy Messier 87 took thefirst ever imageof ablackhole, at April 2019 |The Event Horizon Telescope • • • • • • • Professor DameCarol Robinson industry Appointed DBEin2013for to services science and harnessing spectrometry to drive drugdiscovery Founded thecompany OMassTherapeutics; inlarge complexes Defined thefolding andbindingofinteracting mass spectra recorded generated inthegas phaseandtheirelectrospray Established that macromolecular complexes can be mass spectrometry to problems inchemical biology Distinguished for research ontheapplication of the University ofOxford Professor ofPhysical andTheoretical at Chemistry Royal Society Research Professor andtheDrLee’s Born inBromley 2018–2020 43 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 44 Royal Society of Chemistry Presidents (1980–2024) 21 administered 8 Dec2020 |The first vaccine against COVID-19 sparked aglobalmovement for BlackLives Matter 25 May 2020 |The murder ofGeorge Floyd • • • • • • Professor Thomas Welton Member oftheBritishAthletics Supporters Club education Awarded OBEin2017for to services diversity and World’s first Professor ofSustainable Chemistry College 2014–2019 Dean oftheFaculty ofNatural Sciences at Imperial Studied at University ofSussex Born inLondon 2020–2022 22 • • • • • • Professor GillReid Inorganic coordination chemist in Chemistry Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Learning &Teaching inthePromotionAchievement ofChemistry Royal Society Award ofChemistry for (2016–2020) Head ofChemistry, University ofSouthampton Studied at theUniversity ofEdinburgh Born inGrangemouth, Scotland 2022–2024 Researching Past Presidents 46 Researching Past Presidents London. (Available from theHistorical Collection) Moore, TS &Philip, JC1947, TheChemical Society 1841–1941:AHistorical Review, Chemical Society, Society, pp. 113–292(Available from theJournalArchive) Chemical oftheSociety’, Society oftheDevelopment 1896,‘History TheJubileeoftheChemical Selected bibliography were lookingthroughas ifthey thephysical item. effective; itwouldbethenthat theresearcher wouldneedto perusethedocumentpage-by-page or mayhaveanobscure typeface, performing akeyword search withinthedocumentwon’t be information withregards to theworkingsofearly daysoftheSociety was written byhand historical-collection withindividualitems beinglinked to from thecatalogue. someofthe As Another valuable source ofinformation for researchers isthe Historical Collection pubs.rsc.org/ [email protected] available viathecatalogue homepage; additionalassistance can berequested bycontacting the search thecatalogue can befound inthedocument‘Historical Biographical Research’ available is free to RSC Memberswithsomeinformation beingfree to all.Further information onhowto The catalogue can besearched at rsc.org/opac; access to thecontent linked to intherecords resource. obituaries, images, thebookandjournalcollections, andthearchive, wenowprovide thissingle more integrated search instead experience for theenduser; ofsearching separate platforms for was imported to thecatalogue 2020.Movingthedatabase inFebruary to thecatalogue created a The Biographical Database ofhistorical profiles andobituariesofpast Society fellows andscientists records that willhelpthosewishingto conduct historical research onindividuals. for thebookandjournalcollections andthearchive, the catalogue contains manythousandsof linked to from theRoyal Society ofChemistry’s catalogue. Library wellasholdingtherecords As The information aboutthepast presidents inthisbooklet was predominantly taken from sources Presidents by Date 48 Presidents by Date 39. 38. 37. 36. 35. 34. 33. 32. 31. 30. 29. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Chemical Society Presidents (1841–1980) Alexander Scott (1915–1917) Perkin Jnr.William Henry (1913–1915) Percy Faraday Frankland (1911–1913) Harold BailyDixon (1909–1911) William Ramsay(1907–1909) Meldola(1905–1907) William Augustus Tilden(1903–1905) (1901–1903) James EmersonReynolds (1899–1901) (1897–1899) James Augustus George Vernon Harcourt (1895–1897) Edward ArmstrongHenry (1893–1895) Alexander CrumBrown (1891–1893) William JamesRussell(1889–1891) (1887–1889) Muller(1885–1887) Perkin (1883–1885) William Henry Gilbert(1882–1883) Henry EnfieldRoscoe (1880–1882) Henry Warren delaRue(1879–1880) John HallGladstone (1877–1878) Frederick Augustus Abel(1875–1877) William Odling(1873–1875) (1871–1873) Alexander WilliamWilliamson(1869–1871) Warren delaRue(1867–1869) William AllenMiller(1865–1867) Alexander WilliamWilliamson(1863–1865) August WilhelmvonHoffmann(1861–1863) Benjamin Brodie (1859–1861) Lyon Playfair (1857–1859) William AllenMiller(1855–1857) Philip Yorke (1853–1855) Charles Daubeny(1851–1853) Richard Phillips(1849–1851) William ThomasBrande (1847–1849) Thomas Graham (1845–1847) Arthur Aiken (1843–1845) Thomas Graham (1841–1843) 75. 74. 73. 72. 71. 70. 69. 68. 67. 66. 65. 64. 63. 62. 61. 60. 59. 58. 57. 56. 55. 54. 53. 52. 51. 50. 49. 48. 47. 46. 45. 44. 43. 42. 41. 40. Alfred Spinks(1979–1980) Theodore MorrisSugden (1978–1979) Alan WoodworthJohnson(1977–1978) Cyril Clifford Addison(1976–1977) Frank ArnoldRobinson (1975–1976) Jack WheelerBarrett (1974–1975) Derek Harold Richard Barton (1973–1974) Frederick Dainton (1972–1973) Sydney George Porter (1970–1972) Nyholm(1968–1970) Ronald Sydney WorkMelville(1966–1968) Harry Ewart RayHerbertJones(1964–1966) John Monteath Robertson (1962–1964) Alexander Robertus Todd (1960–1962) JuliusEmeleus(1958–1960) Harry HirstEdmund Langley (1956–1958) William Wardlaw (1954–1956) Christopher KelkIngold (1952–1954) RidealEric Keightley (1950–1952) Ian MorrisHeilbron (1948–1950) Cyril NormanHinshelwood(1946–1948) Walter NormanHaworth(1944–1946) William HobsonMills(1941–1944) James CharlesPhilip(1941–August 1941) Robert Robinson (1939–1941) Frederick George Donnan(1937–1939) VincentNevil Sidgwick(1935–1937) Gilbert ThomasMorgan (1933–1935) George Gerald Henderson(1931–1933) Jocelyn FieldThorpe(1928–1931) Herbert Brereton Baker (1926–1928) (1925–1926) Arthur WilliamCrossley William Palmer Wynne(1923–1925) (1921–1923) James Johnston Dobbie(1919–1921) William JacksonPope (1917–1919) 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Royal Society Presidents ofChemistry (1980–2024) 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Society for Analytical Presidents Chemistry (1875–1972) Steven Victor (2000–2002) Ley Anthony Ledwith (1998–2000) Edward WilliamAbel(1996–1998) John Howard Purnell(1994–1996) Charles Wayne Rees (1992–1994) Rex Edward Richards (1990–1992) John MasonWard (1988–1990) (1986–1988) Jack Lewis Richard Oswald ChandlerNorman(1984–1986) John Ivan George Cadogan (1982–1984) Ewart RayHerbertJones(1980–1982) Percy EllisRichards Andrew (1922–1923) Alfred Smetham (1920–1921) Samuel Rideal (1918–1919) George (1916–1917) Embrey Alfred (1914–1915) Leonard Archbutt (1912–1913) Edward Voelcker (1910–1911) Robert Rattray Tatlock (1908–1909) John (1907) Edward Bevan (1905–1906) Thomas Fairley (1903–1904) John Voelcker (1901–1902) Walter Fisher(1899–1900) Bernard Dyer(1897–1898) Thomas Stevenson (1895–1896) Charles Alexander (1893–1894) Otto Hehner(1891–1892) Matthew (1889–1890) Allen(1887–1888) Alfred Henry Alfred Hill(1885–1886) George WilliamWigner(1883–1884) Charles Heisch(1881–1882) John Muter (1879–1880) Auguste Dupre (1877–1878) Theophilus Redwood (1875–1876) 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 49. 48. 47. 46. 45. 44. 43. 42. 41. 40. 39. 38. 37. 36. 35. 34. 33. 32. 31. 30. 29. 28. 27. 26. Gill Reid (2022–2024) Thomas Welton (2020–2022) Carol VRobinson (2018–2020) (2016–2018) (2014–2016) YellowleesLesley (2012–2014) David Phillips(2010–2012) C DavidGarner(2008–2010) (2006–2008) (2004–2006) Harold Kroto (2002–2004) Clifford (1971–1972) Whalley Thomas SummersWest (1969–1970) Arthur George Jones(1967–1968) ArthurSmales(1964–1966) Donald Clarence Garrett (1962–1963) Arthur JamesAmos(1961–1962) Ralph ClarkChirnside(1959–1960) Jack HubertHamence (1957–1958) Kenneth AlanWilliams(1955–1956) Douglas WilliamKent–Jones (1953–1954) John RalphNicholls(1951–1952) George Taylor (1949–1950) EynonLewis (1947–1948) Gordon WickhamMonier–Williams (1945–1946) Samuel Ernest Melling(1943–1944) Edwin BurnthorpeHughes(1940–1942) (1938–1939) William Henry Gerald Roche Lynch (1936–1937) John (1934–1935) Francis WilliamFrederick Annaud (1932–1933) John ThomasDunn(1930–1931) Edward Hinks(1928–1929) Edward Richards Bolton (1926–1927) George RuddThompson(1924–1925) 49 Presidents by Date 50 Presidents by Date 39. 38. 37. 36. 35. 34. 33. 32. 31. 30. 29. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. (1877–1980) Royal Institute Presidents ofChemistry Richard Oswald Norman(1978–1980) Charles NormanThompson(1976–1978) (1974–1976) Frank ArnoldRobinson (1972–1974) Ewart Ray HerbertJones(1970–1972) Williams(1967–1970) Leslie Henry Frank (1965–1967) Hartley JuliusEmeleus(1963–1965) Harry William KershawSlater (1961–1963) Ernest Le QuesneHerbert(1959–1961) William Wardlaw (1957–1958) Douglas WilliamKent–Jones (1955–1957) JephcottHarry (1953–1955) Herbert WilliamCremer (1951–1953) James Wilfred (1949–1951) Gerald Roche Lynch (1946–1949) Alexander Findlay(1943–1946) John (1940–1943) William Alexander Skeen Calder(1939–1940) Robert HowsonPickard (1936–1939) Jocelyn FieldThorpe(1933–1936) George Christopher Clayton (1930–1933) Arthur Smithells(1927–1930) George Gerald Henderson(1924–1927) Alfred Chapman(1921–1924) Herbert Jackson(1918–1921) James Johnston Dobbie(1915–1918) Raphael Meldola(1912–1915) George ThomasBeilby(1909–1912) Percy Faraday Frankland (1906–1909) David Howard (1903–1906) John MillarThompson(1900–1903) Thomas Stevenson (1897–1900) William JamesRussell(1894–1897) William Augustus Tilden(1891–1894) James (1888–1891) William Odling(1883–1888) Frederick Augustus Abel(1880–1883) Edward Frankland (1877–1880) 33. 32. 31. 30. 29. 28. 27. 26. 25. 24. 23. 22. 21. 20. 19. 18. 17. 16. 15. 14. 13. 12. 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Presidents (1903–1972) John Wilfred Linnett (1971–1972) Gee(1969–1970) Geoffrey Cecil Edwin Bawn(1967–1968) Frederick Dainton (1965–1966) Sydney Alfred Rene Ubbelhode(1963–1964) Cyril NormanHinshelwood(1961–1962) WorkMelville(1960) Harry Edgar WilliamSteacie (1959) WorkMelville(1958) Harry Ronald Percy Bell (1956–1957) Ronald George Wreyford Norrish(1953–1955) Hugh Taylor (1952–1953) (1950–1952) Charles Goodeve John Lennard-Jones (1948–1950) Arthur JohnAllmand(1947–1948) William Edward Garner(1945–1947) RidealEric Keightley (1938–1945) Morris WilliamTravers (1936–1938) William Rintoul (1934–1936) VincentNevil Sidgwick(1932–1934) (1930–1932) (1928–1930) Thomas MartinLowry Desch(1926–1928) Cecil Henry Frederick George Donnan(1924–1926) Robert Robertson (1922–1924) Alfred WPorter (1920–1922) Robert Abbott Hadfield(1913–1920) Richard T. Glazebrook (1911–1913) James Swinburne(1909–1911) (1908–1909) Perkin (1907) William Henry Lord Kelvin(1905–1907) (1903–1904)

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