Bernard Mouat Jones
Encyclopedia
Bernard Mouat Jones was a British chemist
, notable for identifying the chemical in mustard gas and the first scientist to be Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds
.
Jones was born in Streatham
, London
, and in 1904 graduated with first class honours in chemistry
, mineralogy
, and crystallography
from Balliol College, Oxford
. From 1906 he taught chemistry at Government College
, Lahore
, returning to Britain in 1913 to take up the post of assistant professor at Imperial College of Science and Technology.
In the First World War he enlisted as a private, but rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and director of the chemical laboratory which had been set up in response to the German use of poison gas. His analytical skills helped to identify the composition of new gases, notably mustard gas. He was awarded the DSO
.
After the war he returned to academic life, as a chemistry professor at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, then in 1921 Principal of Manchester Municipal College of Technology. From 1938 to 1948 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds. This included the Second World War, in which he also served in the Home Guard and for six months was in charge of the chemical warfare
establishment at Porton Down
.
He never married, and died in Farnham
, Surrey
on 11 September 1953.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, notable for identifying the chemical in mustard gas and the first scientist to be Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
Jones was born in Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and in 1904 graduated with first class honours in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, mineralogy
Mineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
, and crystallography
Crystallography
Crystallography is the experimental science of the arrangement of atoms in solids. The word "crystallography" derives from the Greek words crystallon = cold drop / frozen drop, with its meaning extending to all solids with some degree of transparency, and grapho = write.Before the development of...
from Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
. From 1906 he taught chemistry at Government College
Government College University
Government College University, Lahore is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan...
, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, returning to Britain in 1913 to take up the post of assistant professor at Imperial College of Science and Technology.
In the First World War he enlisted as a private, but rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and director of the chemical laboratory which had been set up in response to the German use of poison gas. His analytical skills helped to identify the composition of new gases, notably mustard gas. He was awarded the DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.
After the war he returned to academic life, as a chemistry professor at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, then in 1921 Principal of Manchester Municipal College of Technology. From 1938 to 1948 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds. This included the Second World War, in which he also served in the Home Guard and for six months was in charge of the chemical warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
establishment at Porton Down
Porton Down
Porton Down is a United Kingdom government and military science park. It is situated slightly northeast of Porton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. To the northwest lies the MoD Boscombe Down test range facility which is operated by QinetiQ...
.
He never married, and died in Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
on 11 September 1953.