Charles Edward Munroe
Encyclopedia
Charles Edward Munroe was a U.S. chemist
, and discoverer of the Munroe effect.
He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
and studied at the Lawrence scientific school of Harvard
, graduating in 1871. He then took a job as an assistant professor of chemistry at the college until 1874, when he moved to Annapolis
to become a professor of chemistry at the United States Naval Academy
.
In 1886 he joined the Naval Torpedo Station and War College at Newport, Rhode Island
as a chemist
, where he discovered the Munroe effect, the basis for explosive shaped charges. From 1892-1989 Munroe was head of the Department of Chemistry and Dean of the Corcoran Scientific School at the Columbian University
(renamed George Washington University
in 1904). During the same time period, he was also the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and earned a Ph.D. in 1894 and LL.D in 1912 from the University. In 1919 he became Dean Emeritus of the School of Graduate Studies and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, roles he kept until he died. He wrote over 100 books on explosives and chemistry, and was appointed in 1900 by the Swedish Academy of Science to nominate the candidate for the Nobel Prize
in chemistry. In addition, Munroe served as president of the American Chemical Society
in 1898 and as a consultant to the United States Geological Survey
and the United States Bureau of Mines
.
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...
, and discoverer of the Munroe effect.
He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
and studied at the Lawrence scientific school of Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, graduating in 1871. He then took a job as an assistant professor of chemistry at the college until 1874, when he moved to Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
to become a professor of chemistry at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
.
In 1886 he joined the Naval Torpedo Station and War College at Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
as a chemist
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...
, where he discovered the Munroe effect, the basis for explosive shaped charges. From 1892-1989 Munroe was head of the Department of Chemistry and Dean of the Corcoran Scientific School at the Columbian University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(renamed George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1904). During the same time period, he was also the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and earned a Ph.D. in 1894 and LL.D in 1912 from the University. In 1919 he became Dean Emeritus of the School of Graduate Studies and Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, roles he kept until he died. He wrote over 100 books on explosives and chemistry, and was appointed in 1900 by the Swedish Academy of Science to nominate the candidate for the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
in chemistry. In addition, Munroe served as president of the American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society
The American Chemical Society is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 161,000 members at all degree-levels and in all fields of chemistry, chemical...
in 1898 and as a consultant to the United States Geological Survey
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
and the United States Bureau of Mines
United States Bureau of Mines
For most of the 20th century, the U.S. Bureau of Mines was the primary United States Government agency conducting scientific research and disseminating information on the extraction, processing, use, and conservation of mineral resources.- Summary :...
.
Publications
- An Index to the Literature of Explosives (1886)
- Lectures on Chemistry and Explosives (1888)
- A Primer on Explosives for Coal Miners (1909, 1911)
External links
- Charles Munroe Papers Online Collection, Special Collections Research Center, Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library, The George Washington University.
Research Resources
- Charles Munroe Papers, 1894-1936 (1 linear ft.) are housed in the Special Collections Research CenterSpecial Collections Research CenterThe name Special Collections Research Center can refer to archival repositories at a number of universities:*Special Collections Research Center, Earl Gregg Swem Library, College of William & Mary...
, Estelle and Melvin Gelman LibraryGelman LibraryThe Estelle and Melvin Gelman Library is the main library of The George Washington University, located on its Foggy Bottom campus. The Gelman Library, The Eckles Library on the Mount Vernon campus and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus Library in Ashburn comprise the trio known as the...
, The George Washington University.