John Wilson (industrial chemist)
Encyclopedia
John Wilson CBE
, MC
& Bar
, FRIC
(6 September 1890 – 8 September 1976) was Director of the British Rayon Research Association
from 1948 to 1958. He was married to Edith Wilson (née Leech) and had six children.
in Yorkshire and went on to obtain an MSc from Sheffield University. He was a captain in the First World War serving in France with the York and Lancaster Regiment
, where he received the Military Cross
twice and was mentioned in Dispatches. According to the London Gazette
, Wilson:
On the second occasion, also in 1918, he:
), he made a significant contribution to the development of safety glass. He then worked as Director of Research at the British Rubber Research Association
from 1937-1947.
He was appointed Director of the British Rayon Research Association in 1948, where he worked until his retirement in 1958. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1958. Under his stewardship, the BRRA became an organisation with an international reputation in its field and nearly 300 staff.
describes Wilson in 1944 as an “bluff, outgoing, middle aged Yorkshireman” who “enthusiastically encouraged” him in his research ideas around the theory of elasticity.
Wilson was said by his peers to be forceful and unconventional:
He was also credited as having insight into what was needed to make successful scientific research:
His interest in computers included sponsoring Andrew Donald Booth
's APEXC
while Director of the BRRA. He also appears to have attended one of the UK's first computer conferences.
He also credited with knowing how to pick and build a successful team:
. Trials took place in Argyll
and Éire
. He had started work on the problem while at the BRRA, as Rayon manufacturers were a large importer of cellulose
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, FRIC
Royal Institute of Chemistry
The Royal Institute of Chemistry was a British scientific organisation.Founded in 1877 as the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain, its role was to focus on qualifications and the professional status of chemists, and its aim was to ensure that consulting and analytical chemists were properly...
(6 September 1890 – 8 September 1976) was Director of the British Rayon Research Association
British Rayon Research Association
The British Rayon Research Association was a research institute formed in 1946 by the British Rayon Federation and others. It was funded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and by voluntary funds from industry to investigate the chemical and physical properties of rayon and...
from 1948 to 1958. He was married to Edith Wilson (née Leech) and had six children.
Early life
Wilson was born in Edinburgh to Isabella and Richard. He studied at Bingley Grammar SchoolBingley Grammar School
Bingley Grammar School is a school for both boys and girls from the ages of 11–18 and is located on the outskirts of Bingley, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
in Yorkshire and went on to obtain an MSc from Sheffield University. He was a captain in the First World War serving in France with the York and Lancaster Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties...
, where he received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
twice and was mentioned in Dispatches. According to the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
, Wilson:
went out in daylight into “No Man's Land” over ground covered by enemy snipers, close up to an enemy “pill-box,” and secured an identification from the bodies of two of the enemy who had been killed by a patrol. His courageous action secured a valuable identification.
On the second occasion, also in 1918, he:
led his company with great dash and determination against a group of houses strongly held by the enemy, and drove them out with heavy casualties. Later, though severely wounded, he continued to direct operations until relieved of his command. He set a splendid example to all.
Career
Wilson worked at Triplex Laboratories in Birmingham. As works chemist at Triplex Safety Glass Company (now PilkingtonPilkington
Pilkington Group Limited is a multinational glass manufacturing company headquartered in St Helens, United Kingdom. It is a subsidiary of the Japan-based NSG Group...
), he made a significant contribution to the development of safety glass. He then worked as Director of Research at the British Rubber Research Association
British Rubber Producers Research Association
The Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre, originally known as the British Rubber Producers' Research Association, carries out research into rubber and is funded by the Malaysian government....
from 1937-1947.
He was appointed Director of the British Rayon Research Association in 1948, where he worked until his retirement in 1958. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1958. Under his stewardship, the BRRA became an organisation with an international reputation in its field and nearly 300 staff.
Personality and foresight
Ronald RivlinRonald Rivlin
Ronald Samuel Rivlin was a British-American physicist, mathematician, rheologist and a noted expert on rubber.-Life:Rivlin was born in London in 1915. He studied physics and mathematics at St John's College, Cambridge, being awarded a BA in 1937 and a ScD in 1952...
describes Wilson in 1944 as an “bluff, outgoing, middle aged Yorkshireman” who “enthusiastically encouraged” him in his research ideas around the theory of elasticity.
Wilson was said by his peers to be forceful and unconventional:
Directness was his very nature; he said what he meant and he meant what he said to anyone without fear or favour. With this moral courage went unconscionable physical bravery as revealed by his antics on war service in France where he took to night-time excursions in no-man's land to relieve boredom in front-line trenches, and also, more recently, by his car driving which could be quite fearful for passengers
He was also credited as having insight into what was needed to make successful scientific research:
... his contribution to industrial research was characterized by an ability to excite the interest of (and to support financially) academically experienced scientists. He not only awarded many postgraduate research studentships in order to train future staff but was also perceptive enough to finance more senior university research workers very early in the development of such diverse topics as organic crystal structure analysis, digital computers, flash photolysis and fluidized beds.
His interest in computers included sponsoring Andrew Donald Booth
Andrew Donald Booth
Andrew Donald Booth was a British electrical engineer, physicist and computer scientist who led the invention of the magnetic drum memory for computers and invented Booth's multiplication algorithm....
's APEXC
APEXC
The APEC, or All Purpose Electronic Computer series was designed by Andrew Donald Booth at Birkbeck College, London in the early 1950s. His work on the APEC series was sponsored by the British Rayon Research Association. Although the naming conventions are slightly unclear, it seems the first...
while Director of the BRRA. He also appears to have attended one of the UK's first computer conferences.
He also credited with knowing how to pick and build a successful team:
He chose his staff on trusted recommendation or by intuition, and thus assembled a group which radically advanced the science of rubber [at the BRPRA] ... His stimulating ebullience, his concern with work not red tape, and his abiding principle to support and fight to the limit for his staff outside the laboratories (however much he might assail them inside) engendered immense loyalty and a wonderful team spirit.
Later life
During the 1960s until his death, Wilson pursued research into producing cellulose pulp, the raw product used in paper production, from bambooBamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. Trials took place in Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
and Éire
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He had started work on the problem while at the BRRA, as Rayon manufacturers were a large importer of cellulose
Cellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....
.
Further reading and viewing
- Obituary, Chemistry in BritainChemistry WorldChemistry World is a monthly chemistry news magazine published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. The magazine addresses current events in world of chemistry including research, international business news and government policy as it affects the chemical science community, plus the best product...
: Volume 13 1977, page 232 - The Manchester Joint Research Council 1955 Industry and Science conference, page 47, transcript of contribution by Wilson
- Duke at British Rayon Research, clip featuring Wilson showing HRH Duke of Edinburgh around BRRA laboratories