Alexander King (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Alexander King CMG
, CBE
(26 January 1909 - 28 February 2007) was a scientist and pioneer of the sustainable development movement who co-founded the Club of Rome
in 1968 with the Italian industrialist Aurelio Peccei
.
At the time of the Club of Rome's founding, King was a "top international scientific civil servant, Scots by birth, living in Paris."
, studied chemistry at London's Royal College of Science
and the University of Munich, then taught and carried out some important research at Imperial College, London.
In 1940, Henry Tizard
invited King to join the Ministry of Production
as Deputy Scientific Adviser. While there he would learn from an intercepted letter the properties of the insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, coining the acronym DDT
. He travelled to the U.S. in 1943, becoming Head of the UK Scientific Mission and Scientific Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington.
Following the war he became Secretary of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy and personal adviser to the Lord President of the Council
, Herbert Morrison
. He later became Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
In 1957 he joined the European Productivity Agency in Paris, where he remained until 1974.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(26 January 1909 - 28 February 2007) was a scientist and pioneer of the sustainable development movement who co-founded the Club of Rome
Club of Rome
The Club of Rome is a global think tank that deals with a variety of international political issues. Founded in 1968 at Accademia dei Lincei in Rome, Italy, the CoR describes itself as "a group of world citizens, sharing a common concern for the future of humanity." It consists of current and...
in 1968 with the Italian industrialist Aurelio Peccei
Aurelio Peccei
Aurelio Peccei was an Italian scholar and industrialist, best known as the founder and first president of the Club of Rome.- Early life :...
.
At the time of the Club of Rome's founding, King was a "top international scientific civil servant, Scots by birth, living in Paris."
Education and early work
King attended Highgate SchoolHighgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
, studied chemistry at London's Royal College of Science
Royal College of Science
The Royal College of Science was a higher education institution located in South Kensington; it was a constituent college of Imperial College London from 1907 until it was wholly absorbed by Imperial in 2002. Alumni include H. G. Wells and Brian May and are distinguishable by the letters ARCS ...
and the University of Munich, then taught and carried out some important research at Imperial College, London.
In 1940, Henry Tizard
Henry Tizard
Sir Henry Thomas Tizard FRS was an English chemist and inventor and past Rector of Imperial College....
invited King to join the Ministry of Production
Ministry of Production
The Ministry of Production was a British government department created in February 1942, initially under the title Ministry of War Production, but the following month "War" was dropped from the title...
as Deputy Scientific Adviser. While there he would learn from an intercepted letter the properties of the insecticide dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, coining the acronym DDT
DDT
DDT is one of the most well-known synthetic insecticides. It is a chemical with a long, unique, and controversial history....
. He travelled to the U.S. in 1943, becoming Head of the UK Scientific Mission and Scientific Attaché at the British Embassy in Washington.
Following the war he became Secretary of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy and personal adviser to the Lord President of the Council
Lord President of the Council
The Lord President of the Council is the fourth of the Great Officers of State of the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord High Treasurer and above the Lord Privy Seal. The Lord President usually attends each meeting of the Privy Council, presenting business for the monarch's approval...
, Herbert Morrison
Herbert Morrison
Herbert Stanley Morrison, Baron Morrison of Lambeth, CH, PC was a British Labour politician; he held a various number of senior positions in the Cabinet, including Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.-Early life:Morrison was the son of a police constable and was born in...
. He later became Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.
In 1957 he joined the European Productivity Agency in Paris, where he remained until 1974.
External links
- The Club of Rome: Beginnings
- Memoirs of a Boffin contains some biographical material on King
- Alexander King contains information about Alexander King's autobiography 'Let the cat turn round: one man's traverse of the Twentieth century' published by CPTM, November 2006