Harold Roper Robinson
Encyclopedia
Harold Roper Robinson FRS (1889-1955) was a physicist and, in later life, an outstanding figure in university administration.
Robinson was born in Ulverston
, Lancashire on 26 November 1889, the eldest of four brothers and one sister. In 1908 he went to Manchester University on a scholarship. Between 1908 and 1921, he was successively undergraduate, research student, Assistant Lecturer and Demonstrator, Senior Assistant Lecturer in Physics and Assistant Director of the Physical Laboratory at Manchester.
During World War I, he worked with Lawrence Bragg on soundranging.
The citation on his election to Fellowship of the Royal Society
in 1929 reads: "Before 1914 he carried out a series of researches into the nature of Beta-rays
and other problems of radio activity. Distinguished also by his recent work on the energies of X-ray levels, as deduced from the velocities of secondary corpuscular rays, on which important branch of atomic physics he has obtained world-wide recognition as one of the pioneers."
"Professor Robinson came to Queen Mary College, University of London, from University College, Cardiff, as Head of the Physics Department. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest of Rutherford's collaborators. He devised and developed the techniques of X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy and X-ray emission spectroscopy which became valuable tools in chemical analysis. Arising from this work he also deduced the then most accurate values of ratios of atomic constants."
In 1942, he delivered the first Rutherford Memorial Lecture.
He was appointed Vice-Principal of Queen Mary College
in 1946.
He decided to retire in 1953, but took the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of London
(1954-1955).
Robinson was born in Ulverston
Ulverston
Ulverston is a market town and civil parish in the South Lakeland district of Cumbria in north-west England. Historically part of Lancashire, the town is located in the Furness area, close to the Lake District, and just north of Morecambe Bay....
, Lancashire on 26 November 1889, the eldest of four brothers and one sister. In 1908 he went to Manchester University on a scholarship. Between 1908 and 1921, he was successively undergraduate, research student, Assistant Lecturer and Demonstrator, Senior Assistant Lecturer in Physics and Assistant Director of the Physical Laboratory at Manchester.
During World War I, he worked with Lawrence Bragg on soundranging.
The citation on his election to Fellowship 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 1929 reads: "Before 1914 he carried out a series of researches into the nature of Beta-rays
Beta particle
Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive nuclei such as potassium-40. The beta particles emitted are a form of ionizing radiation also known as beta rays. The production of beta particles is termed beta decay...
and other problems of radio activity. Distinguished also by his recent work on the energies of X-ray levels, as deduced from the velocities of secondary corpuscular rays, on which important branch of atomic physics he has obtained world-wide recognition as one of the pioneers."
"Professor Robinson came to Queen Mary College, University of London, from University College, Cardiff, as Head of the Physics Department. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest of Rutherford's collaborators. He devised and developed the techniques of X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy and X-ray emission spectroscopy which became valuable tools in chemical analysis. Arising from this work he also deduced the then most accurate values of ratios of atomic constants."
In 1942, he delivered the first Rutherford Memorial Lecture.
He was appointed Vice-Principal of Queen Mary College
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1946.
He decided to retire in 1953, but took the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(1954-1955).
Publications
- H. R. Robinson, "Rutherford: life and work to the year 1919, with personal reminiscences of the Manchester period", in Rutherford at Manchester (ed. J. B. Birks), pp. 53–86 (Heywood & Co., London, 1962)
- H. R. Robinson and L. Wright, "Evan Jenkin Evans", Proc. Phys. Soc. 56, PP. 404–406 (1944).