Frederick Dainton, Baron Dainton
Encyclopedia
Frederick Sydney Dainton, Baron Dainton FRS
(11 November 1914 – 5 December 1997) was a British
academic chemist
and university administrator.
A graduate of Oxford
and Cambridge
, he was Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Leeds
, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham
, Professor of Chemistry at Oxford and Chancellor
of the University of Sheffield
. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
in 1957 (Davy Medal
1969, Faraday Medal
1974), knight
ed in 1971 and was elevated to a life peerage as Baron Dainton, of Hallam Moors in the County of South Yorkshire
in 1986.
He obtained a scholarship to the Central Secondary School in Sheffield, but it was in the public library that he became enthused of chemistry by reading the books of Sidgwick and Hinshelwood
. He won an Exhibition at St. John's College, Oxford with a supplementary grant and loan from the City of Sheffield, which enabled him to study chemistry, gaining a first class degree in 1937.
He then moved to Cambridge working on photochemistry
under Norrish
. Being short-sighted he was unfit for military service, and stayed to teach at Cambridge during the Second World War. It was during this period that he met and in 1942 married a zoology
research student, Barbara Wright (died 12 April 2009). They were married for 55 years, and had a son and two daughters.
In 1950 he became Professor of Physical Chemistry at Leeds
, specializing in radiochemistry
; work which resulted to his election to Fellow of the Royal Society in 1957. From 1965 to 1970 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham. During this period he chaired Government enquiry into the decline in university entrants in science and technology, published in 1968 as 'The Swing away from Science', and generally known as the Dainton Report.
In 1970 became Professor of Chemistry at Oxford, relinquishing this in 1973 to become Chair of the University Grants Committee (UK)
, a position he held until 1985. In 1971 he was knighted and in 1986 made a life peer, Baron Dainton of Hallam
Moors. From 1978 until his death he was the Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, the first Yorkshireman to hold this post.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(11 November 1914 – 5 December 1997) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
academic 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...
and university administrator.
A graduate of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, he was Professor of Physical Chemistry at 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...
, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, Professor of Chemistry at Oxford and Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1957 (Davy Medal
Davy Medal
The Davy Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of London "for an outstandingly important recent discovery in any branch of chemistry". Named after Humphry Davy, the medal is awarded with a gift of £1000. The medal was first awarded in 1877 to Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff "for...
1969, Faraday Medal
Faraday Medal
The Faraday Medal is a medal awarded by the Institution of Electrical Engineers The bronze medal is awarded without restriction as regards nationality, country of...
1974), knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed in 1971 and was elevated to a life peerage as Baron Dainton, of Hallam Moors in the County of South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
in 1986.
Life
Dainton was born in Sheffield, 11 November 1914, the son of a stonemason, George Whalley Dainton (born 1857), and his second wife Mary Jane Mary Jane, as the youngest of nine children.He obtained a scholarship to the Central Secondary School in Sheffield, but it was in the public library that he became enthused of chemistry by reading the books of Sidgwick and Hinshelwood
Cyril Norman Hinshelwood
Sir Cyril Norman Hinshelwood OM PRS was an English physical chemist.Born in London, his parents were Norman Macmillan Hinshelwood, a chartered accountant, and Ethe Frances née Smith. He was educated first in Canada, returning in 1905 on the death of his father to a small flat in Chelsea where he...
. He won an Exhibition at St. John's College, Oxford with a supplementary grant and loan from the City of Sheffield, which enabled him to study chemistry, gaining a first class degree in 1937.
He then moved to Cambridge working on photochemistry
Photochemistry
Photochemistry, a sub-discipline of chemistry, is the study of chemical reactions that proceed with the absorption of light by atoms or molecules.. Everyday examples include photosynthesis, the degradation of plastics and the formation of vitamin D with sunlight.-Principles:Light is a type of...
under Norrish
Ronald George Wreyford Norrish
Ronald George Wreyford Norrish was a British chemist. He was born in Cambridge and attended The Perse School. He was a former student of Eric Rideal...
. Being short-sighted he was unfit for military service, and stayed to teach at Cambridge during the Second World War. It was during this period that he met and in 1942 married a zoology
Zoology
Zoology |zoölogy]]), is the branch of biology that relates to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct...
research student, Barbara Wright (died 12 April 2009). They were married for 55 years, and had a son and two daughters.
In 1950 he became Professor of Physical Chemistry at Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, specializing in radiochemistry
Radiochemistry
Radiochemistry is the chemistry of radioactive materials, where radioactive isotopes of elements are used to study the properties and chemical reactions of non-radioactive isotopes...
; work which resulted to his election to Fellow of the Royal Society in 1957. From 1965 to 1970 he was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham. During this period he chaired Government enquiry into the decline in university entrants in science and technology, published in 1968 as 'The Swing away from Science', and generally known as the Dainton Report.
In 1970 became Professor of Chemistry at Oxford, relinquishing this in 1973 to become Chair of the University Grants Committee (UK)
University Grants Committee (UK)
The University Grants Committee was an advisory committee of the British government, which advised on the distribution of grant funding amongst the British universities. It was in existence from 1919 until 1989...
, a position he held until 1985. In 1971 he was knighted and in 1986 made a life peer, Baron Dainton of Hallam
Hallamshire
Hallamshire is the historical name for an area of South Yorkshire, England, in the current city of Sheffield.The origin of the name is uncertain. The English Place-Name Society describe "Hallam" originating from a formation meaning "on the rocks"...
Moors. From 1978 until his death he was the Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, the first Yorkshireman to hold this post.