Humphrey Owen Jones
Encyclopedia
Humphrey Owen Jones was a Welsh
chemist
and mountaineer
.
, and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He subsequently studied natural sciences at Clare College, Cambridge
, graduating BA in 1899 and MA in 1903. In 1904 he was admitted to D. Sc. of London University.
On 1 August 1912 Jones married a colleague, Muriel Gwendolen Edwards, a keen climber and the first woman to be elected a Fellow of the University of Wales
.
, Sir James Dewar
, which he held up to the time of his death. He was elected in due course (1902) to a Fellowship at Clare College where he subsequently became lecturer. For eleven years Jones devoted most of his time to teaching in the university laboratory and to the supervision of the science students of his college. Beyond this work with students, Jones was one of the most productive British chemists of his day and published more than 60 papers between 1900 and 1912.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jones had not visited foreign laboratories and even other English Universities. He gained his research experience entirely at Cambridge, working with Dewar and Fenton
. With the latter he carried out his first experimental investigation on the “oxidation of organic acids in the presence of iron” (1900), and in 1904 prepared his own work on the stereochemistry of nitrogen. In 1907 and in 1909 he wrote the section on stereochemistry
for the annual reports of the Chemical Society
. The study of organic nitrogen bases led to his attempt to solve the difficult problem of the constitution and transformations of the aldol
bases derived from the homologues
of aniline
. Meanwhile, Jones was assisting Dewar in very different investigations of the metallic (nickel and iron) carbonyl
s. These researches had made Jones familiar with low temperature manipulations and ultimately led to their discovery of carbon monosulfide
. In this way Jones' attention was directed to organic sulfur compounds, particularly thio
-oxalate
s, thiomalonates and thiophosphates. His eminence as an investigator was recognised in his election to the Royal Society
in 1912.
. He went on to pioneer some of the most difficult climbs in that region, such as Paradise on Lliwedd, which he put up in 1909. His sister, Bronwen Ceridwen Jones (later Mawson), was also an accomplished climber. Together with Karl Blodig
, Geoffrey Winthrop Young
and the guide Joseph Knubel he made the first ascent of the Brouillard ridge to the summit of Mont Blanc
on 9 August 1911. He thoroughly explored the Mont Blanc region and put up many new routes there. Already a member of the Committee of the Climbers’ Club, in 1909 he was elected a member of the Alpine Club
. The journals of both clubs contain several papers documenting his explorations.
on 15 August 1912 – their guide slipped and fell on Jones, and all three dropped nearly 1,000 feet to the Fresnay Glacier. They were buried at Courmayeur
. The north summit of the Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey
was named La Pointe Jones in his honour.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
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 mountaineer
Mountaineer
-Sports:*Mountaineering, the sport, hobby or profession of walking, hiking, trekking and climbing up mountains, also known as alpinism-University athletic teams and mascots:*Appalachian State Mountaineers, the athletic teams of Appalachian State University...
.
Life
Jones was born at Goginan, Cardiganshire, and educated at Lewis School, PengamLewis School, Pengam
Lewis School, Pengam is a comprehensive school founded in 1729 in the town of Pengam and, latterly, nearby Gilfach, in the Rhymney Valley in south Wales.- Location :...
, and the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. He subsequently studied natural sciences at Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, graduating BA in 1899 and MA in 1903. In 1904 he was admitted to D. Sc. of London University.
On 1 August 1912 Jones married a colleague, Muriel Gwendolen Edwards, a keen climber and the first woman to be elected a Fellow of the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
.
Chemist
In 1901 he obtained an official appointment of demonstrator to the Jacksonian Professor of Natural PhilosophyJacksonian Professor of Natural Philosophy
The Jacksonian Professorship of Natural Philosophy is one of the senior chairs in Natural and Experimental philosophy at Cambridge University, and was founded in 1782 by a bequest from the Reverend Richard Jackson....
, Sir James Dewar
James Dewar
Sir James Dewar FRS was a Scottish chemist and physicist. He is probably best-known today for his invention of the Dewar flask, which he used in conjunction with extensive research into the liquefaction of gases...
, which he held up to the time of his death. He was elected in due course (1902) to a Fellowship at Clare College where he subsequently became lecturer. For eleven years Jones devoted most of his time to teaching in the university laboratory and to the supervision of the science students of his college. Beyond this work with students, Jones was one of the most productive British chemists of his day and published more than 60 papers between 1900 and 1912.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Jones had not visited foreign laboratories and even other English Universities. He gained his research experience entirely at Cambridge, working with Dewar and Fenton
Henry John Horstman Fenton
Henry John Horstman Fenton was a British chemist who, in the 1890s invented Fenton's reagent, a solution of hydrogen peroxide and an iron catalyst that is used to oxidize contaminants or waste waters...
. With the latter he carried out his first experimental investigation on the “oxidation of organic acids in the presence of iron” (1900), and in 1904 prepared his own work on the stereochemistry of nitrogen. In 1907 and in 1909 he wrote the section on stereochemistry
Stereochemistry
Stereochemistry, a subdiscipline of chemistry, involves the study of the relative spatial arrangement of atoms within molecules. An important branch of stereochemistry is the study of chiral molecules....
for the annual reports of the Chemical Society
Chemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
. The study of organic nitrogen bases led to his attempt to solve the difficult problem of the constitution and transformations of the aldol
Aldol
An aldol or aldol adduct is a beta-hydroxy ketone or aldehyde, and is the product of aldol addition ....
bases derived from the homologues
Homology (chemistry)
In chemistry, homology refers to the appearance of homologues. A homologue is a compound belonging to a series of compounds differing from each other by a repeating unit, such as a methylene group, a peptide residue, etcetera....
of aniline
Aniline
Aniline, phenylamine or aminobenzene is an organic compound with the formula C6H5NH2. Consisting of a phenyl group attached to an amino group, aniline is the prototypical aromatic amine. Being a precursor to many industrial chemicals, its main use is in the manufacture of precursors to polyurethane...
. Meanwhile, Jones was assisting Dewar in very different investigations of the metallic (nickel and iron) carbonyl
Carbonyl
In organic chemistry, a carbonyl group is a functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom: C=O. It is common to several classes of organic compounds, as part of many larger functional groups....
s. These researches had made Jones familiar with low temperature manipulations and ultimately led to their discovery of carbon monosulfide
Carbon monosulfide
Carbon monosulfide is a chemical compound with the formula CS. This diatomic molecule is the sulfur analogue of carbon monoxide, and is unstable as a solid or a liquid, but it has been observed as a gas both in the laboratory and in the interstellar medium. The molecule resembles carbon monoxide...
. In this way Jones' attention was directed to organic sulfur compounds, particularly thio
Thiol
In organic chemistry, a thiol is an organosulfur compound that contains a carbon-bonded sulfhydryl group...
-oxalate
Oxalate
Oxalate , is the dianion with formula C2O42− also written 22−. Either name is often used for derivatives, such as disodium oxalate, 2C2O42−, or an ester of oxalic acid Oxalate (IUPAC: ethanedioate), is the dianion with formula C2O42− also written (COO)22−. Either...
s, thiomalonates and thiophosphates. His eminence as an investigator was recognised in his election to 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 1912.
Mountaineering
In 1907, Jones became a keen climber after receiving some tuition in SnowdoniaSnowdonia
Snowdonia is a region in north Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three National Parks in Wales, in 1951.-Name and extent:...
. He went on to pioneer some of the most difficult climbs in that region, such as Paradise on Lliwedd, which he put up in 1909. His sister, Bronwen Ceridwen Jones (later Mawson), was also an accomplished climber. Together with Karl Blodig
Karl Blodig
Karl Blodig was an Austrian mountaineer, optician and journalist.Blodig was the first to successfully climb all the Alpine peaks of over 4000 meters, completing his final summit in around 1900. He describes these climbs in his book "Die Viertausender der Alpen ", first published in 1923....
, Geoffrey Winthrop Young
Geoffrey Winthrop Young
Geoffrey Winthrop Young D.Litt. was a British climber, poet and educator, and author of several notable books on mountaineering.-Mountaineering:...
and the guide Joseph Knubel he made the first ascent of the Brouillard ridge to the summit of Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
on 9 August 1911. He thoroughly explored the Mont Blanc region and put up many new routes there. Already a member of the Committee of the Climbers’ Club, in 1909 he was elected a member of the Alpine Club
Alpine Club (UK)
The Alpine Club was founded in London in 1857 and was probably the world's first mountaineering club. It is UK mountaineering's acknowledged 'senior club'.-History:...
. The journals of both clubs contain several papers documenting his explorations.
Death
Both Jones and his wife were killed in an accident on their honeymoon in Switzerland, while climbing Mont RougeMont Rouge
Mont Rouge is a mountain in the Pennine Alps in Switzerland.-External links:*...
on 15 August 1912 – their guide slipped and fell on Jones, and all three dropped nearly 1,000 feet to the Fresnay Glacier. They were buried at Courmayeur
Courmayeur
Courmayeur is an Italian town and comune in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley, in northern Italy. It is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe, in the Graian Alps range, and is crossed by the Dora Baltea...
. The north summit of the Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey
Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey
The Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey is a mountain of the Mont Blanc massif in Italy. It is considered the most difficult and serious of the alpine 4000-m mountains.There are three tops to the mountain:*Pointe Güssfeldt...
was named La Pointe Jones in his honour.