Joseph George Davidson
Encyclopedia
Joseph George Davidson was an American
chemist
and inventor.
Davidson was born February 7, 1892, in New York City
, a son of John Wellington and Theresa (Gahan) Davidson. The family moved to California
when he was an infant. He received his bachelor of arts degree in chemistry
in 1911 from the University of Southern California
, and subsequently a master of arts in chemistry in 1912. He subsequently received a doctorate
in chemistry
from Columbia University
.
During World War I
he worked as an army first lieutenant in the development of mustard gas. During World War II
, he headed Union Carbide
's subcontract to carry out the gaseous diffusion
separation of uranium
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
, which produced the fissile material for the first atomic bomb.
He rose to the rank of vice president of the Union Carbide Corporation, and president and then board chairman of Union Carbide's Chemicals Company Division. He held twenty-eight patents, the best known being Bakelite (named for its inventor, Leo A. Bakeland). He also held patents on lacquers, antiknock fuels
, pickling inhibitors, and laminated safety glass
.
In his retirement, in the 1960s, he purchased about 11 square miles (28.5 km²) of Mt. Equinox, outside Arlington, Vermont. He would later donate this land to the Carthusians who built the Charterhouse of the Transfiguration
on the property.
He died October 9, 1969.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 inventor.
Davidson was born February 7, 1892, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, a son of John Wellington and Theresa (Gahan) Davidson. The family moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
when he was an infant. He received his bachelor of arts degree in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
in 1911 from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, and subsequently a master of arts in chemistry in 1912. He subsequently received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he worked as an army first lieutenant in the development of mustard gas. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he headed Union Carbide
Union Carbide
Union Carbide Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. It currently employs more than 2,400 people. Union Carbide primarily produces chemicals and polymers that undergo one or more further conversions by customers before reaching consumers. Some are high-volume...
's subcontract to carry out the gaseous diffusion
Gaseous diffusion
Gaseous diffusion is a technology used to produce enriched uranium by forcing gaseous uranium hexafluoride through semi-permeable membranes. This produces a slight separation between the molecules containing uranium-235 and uranium-238 . By use of a large cascade of many stages, high separations...
separation of uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge is a city in Anderson and Roane counties in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Tennessee, about west of Knoxville. Oak Ridge's population was 27,387 at the 2000 census...
, which produced the fissile material for the first atomic bomb.
He rose to the rank of vice president of the Union Carbide Corporation, and president and then board chairman of Union Carbide's Chemicals Company Division. He held twenty-eight patents, the best known being Bakelite (named for its inventor, Leo A. Bakeland). He also held patents on lacquers, antiknock fuels
Antiknock agent
An antiknock agent is a gasoline additive used to reduce engine knocking and increase the fuel's octane rating.The mixture known as gasoline, when used in high compression internal combustion engines, has a tendency to ignite early causing a damaging "engine knocking" noise...
, pickling inhibitors, and laminated safety glass
Safety glass
Safety glass is glass with additional safety features. Designs include:* Toughened glass * Laminated glass* Wire mesh glass...
.
In his retirement, in the 1960s, he purchased about 11 square miles (28.5 km²) of Mt. Equinox, outside Arlington, Vermont. He would later donate this land to the Carthusians who built the Charterhouse of the Transfiguration
Charterhouse of the Transfiguration
The Charterhouse of the Transfiguration is the only Carthusian monastery in the USA, located on Mt. Equinox, outside Arlington, Vermont.The property was donated by Joseph George Davidson, a retired Union Carbide Corporation executive....
on the property.
He died October 9, 1969.