Lloyd Montgomery Pidgeon
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Montgomery Pidgeon, OC
, MBE
(December 3, 1903 – December 9, 1999) was a Canadian
chemist who developed the Pidgeon process
, one of the methods of magnesium
metal production, via a silicothermic
reduction. He is considered the "father" of academic metallurgical research in Canada.
Born in Markham, Ontario
, the son of E. Leslie Pidgeon, an United Church of Canada
minister, and Edith Gilker, he received a Bachelor of Arts in science from the University of Manitoba
in 1925, a Master of Science from McGill University
in 1927, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from McGill University in 1929. He was awarded a Sir William Ramsay Memorial Fellowship from Oxford University and worked under Sir Alfred Egerton from 1929 to 1931.
In 1931, he joined the National Research Council. In 1943, he was appointed chairman of the department of metallurgy at the University of Toronto
. He retired in 1969.
In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
in 1943. He was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
.
He married Frances Rundle. They had two children.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, MBE
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...
(December 3, 1903 – December 9, 1999) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
chemist who developed the Pidgeon process
Pidgeon process
The Pidgeon process is one of the methods of magnesium metal production, via a silicothermic reduction. Practical production requires roughly 35-40 MWh/ton of metal produced, which is on par with the molten salt electrolytic methods of production, though above the 7 MWh/ton theoretical...
, one of the methods of magnesium
Magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and common oxidation number +2. It is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and ninth in the known universe as a whole...
metal production, via a silicothermic
Silicothermic reaction
Silicothermic reactions are thermic chemical reactions using silicon as the reducing agent at high temperature . The most prominent example is the Pidgeon process for reducing magnesium metal from ores. Other processes include the Bolzano process and the magnetherm process...
reduction. He is considered the "father" of academic metallurgical research in Canada.
Born in Markham, Ontario
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
, the son of E. Leslie Pidgeon, an United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
minister, and Edith Gilker, he received a Bachelor of Arts in science from the University of Manitoba
University of Manitoba
The University of Manitoba , in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is the largest university in the province of Manitoba. It is Manitoba's most comprehensive and only research-intensive post-secondary educational institution. It was founded in 1877, making it Western Canada’s first university. It placed...
in 1925, a Master of Science from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1927, and a Ph.D. in chemistry from McGill University in 1929. He was awarded a Sir William Ramsay Memorial Fellowship from Oxford University and worked under Sir Alfred Egerton from 1929 to 1931.
In 1931, he joined the National Research Council. In 1943, he was appointed chairman of the department of metallurgy at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. He retired in 1969.
In 1996, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
. He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
Royal Society of Canada
The Royal Society of Canada , may also operate under the more descriptive name RSC: The Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada , is the oldest association of scientists and scholars in Canada...
in 1943. He was inducted into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
Canadian Mining Hall of Fame
The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame aims to recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the mining industry.It was conceived by Maurice R. Brown as a way to recognize and honor the legendary mine finders and builders of this Canadian industry. The Hall was established in 1988...
.
He married Frances Rundle. They had two children.
External links
- Lloyd Montgomery Pidgeon at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...