Ian Heilbron

Sir Ian (Isidor) Morris Heilbron DSO FRS (6 November 1886–14 September 1959) was a British chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society (elected 1931). He was knighted in 1946. The American Chemical Society honored him with its highest prize, the Priestley Medal, in 1945.

Early life

Heilbron was born in Glasgow on 6 November 1886 and was educated at Glasgow High School and then the Royal Technical College. Following an award of a Carnegie Fellowship he went to the University of Leipzig.

Career

• Lecturer, Royal Technical College, 1909–14
• Served as an officer in British Army, 1910-20, awarded a Distinguished Service Order in 1918 for distinguished service related to operations in Salonika. He was also appointed an Officer of the Order of the Redeemer by the Greek government.
• Professor of organic chemistry, Royal Technical College, 1919–20
• Professor, University of Liverpool, 1920-33 (Heath Harrison Chair of Organic Chemistry)
• Professor, University of Manchester, 1933-8 (Sir Samuel Hall professor of chemistry, 1935-8)
• Professor, Imperial College, 1938–49
• Director, Brewing Industry Research Foundation, 1949–58

During the Second World War from 1939 to 1942 he worked as a scientific advisor to the Department of Scientific Research in the Ministry of Supply, after 1942 he became a scientic advisor to the Ministry of Production. In recognition of his work during war he was appointed a Knight Bachelor in 1946.

He was a pioneer of organic chemical research developed for therapeutic and industrial use.

References

• Dictionary of National Biography
• Who was Who
• Profile