James Irvine (chemist)
Sir James Irvine | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 9 May 1877 |
| Died | 12 June 1952 (aged 75) |
| Resting place | St Andrews |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Awards | Davy Medal (1925) Willard Gibbs Award (1926) Elliott Cresson Medal (1929) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organic chemistry |
| Institutions | University of St Andrews |
Sir James Colquhoun Irvine KBE FRS[1] FRSE FEIS (9 May 1877 – 12 June 1952) was a Scottish organic chemist and Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews from 1921 until his death. As a research chemist, Irvine worked on the application of methylation techniques to carbohydrates, and isolated the first methylated sugars, trimethyl and tetramethyl glucose.[2][3]
Life
Irvine was born in Glasgow to factory-owner John Irvine (a manufacturer of light-castings) and Mary Paton Colquhoun. He was educated at Allan Glen's School.[4]
He then studied at the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, before taking a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of St Andrews. From there, he went to the University of Leipzig, where he studied for a Ph.D. under Ostwald and Wislicenus. Returning to St Andrews, he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree, and taught Chemistry there. He was appointed Professor of Chemistry in 1909 and Dean of Science in 1912. In 1921, he was appointed Principal. His tenure saw the renovation and restoration of both buildings and traditions, and his works are still talked of today. His commitments spanned further than the University, into higher education in Britain and the colonies. He also served as acting Principal of University College Dundee.[5]
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1917 and a Fellow of The Royal Society of London in 1918. He served as Vice President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1922 to 1925. He won the society's Gunning Victoria Jubilee Prize for 1936-1940.[6]
He received honorary doctorates from the Universities of Aberdeen, Cambridge, Columbia, Durham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, McGill, Oxford, Princeton, Toronto, Wales and Yale.
He died at home in St Andrews on 12 June 1952 and was buried in the eastern cemetery close to the main lower entrance gate.[7]
Family
Irvine married Mabel Violet Williams in 1905.
References
- ^ Attention: This template ({{cite doi}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by doi:10.1098/rsbm.1953.0011, please use {{cite journal}} (if it was published in a bona fide academic journal, otherwise {{cite report}} with
|doi=10.1098/rsbm.1953.0011instead. - ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 13138381, please use {{cite journal}} with
|pmid= 13138381instead. - ^ Attention: This template ({{cite pmid}}) is deprecated. To cite the publication identified by PMID 14957005, please use {{cite journal}} with
|pmid= 14957005instead. - ^ Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006). Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002: Biographical Index (PDF). Vol. I. Edinburgh: The Royal Society of Edinburgh. ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
- ^ Shafe, Michael (1982). University Education in Dundee 1881-1981: A Pictorial History. Dundee: University of Dundee. p. 204.
- ^ https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf
- ^ https://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf
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- 1877 births
- 1952 deaths
- Academics of the University of St Andrews
- Alumni of the University of St Andrews
- Scottish chemists
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Fellows of the Royal Society
- Principals of the University of St Andrews
- People from Glasgow
- Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- Organic chemists
- People educated at Allan Glen's School
- Alumni of the University of Strathclyde
- Leipzig University alumni
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