Robert Angus Smith
Encyclopedia
Robert Angus Smith was a Scottish chemist
, who investigated numerous environmental issues. He is famous for his research on air pollution
in 1852, in the course of which he discovered what came to be known as acid rain
. He is sometimes referred to as the 'Father of Acid Rain'.
Born Pollokshaws
, Glasgow
, Smith was educated at the University of Glasgow
in preparation for ministry in the Church of Scotland
but left before graduating. He worked as a personal tutor and, accompanying a family to Gießen
in 1839, he stayed on in Germany to study chemistry
under Justus von Liebig
, earning a Ph.D.
in 1841.
On returning to England the same year, he again considered Holy Orders but instead was attracted to Manchester
to join the chemical laboratory of Lyon Playfair at the Royal Manchester Institution
. Here he became involved in some of the environmental issues of the world's first industrial city (see History of Manchester
). Playfair left for greener pastures in 1845 and Smith worked at making a living as an independent analytical chemist
. After some initial alarming experiences, Smith refused to take on expert witness
work which was a staple of consulting scientists of the day and which he saw as corrupt. Consequently, when the Alkali Inspectorate was established by the Alkali Act 1863
, Smith's integrity made him the natural candidate. He held the post until his death. He is buried in the graveyard
of St Paul's Church on Kersal Moor
, Salford
In 1872 Smith published the book Air and Rain: the Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology, which presents his studies of the chemistry of atmospheric
precipitation
. After his death his collection of books was acquired by the library of Owens College, Manchester.
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...
, who investigated numerous environmental issues. He is famous for his research on air pollution
Air pollution
Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or cause damage to the natural environment or built environment, into the atmosphere....
in 1852, in the course of which he discovered what came to be known as acid rain
Acid rain
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions . It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen...
. He is sometimes referred to as the 'Father of Acid Rain'.
Born Pollokshaws
Pollokshaws
Pollokshaws is a district on the southside of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The housing stock mostly consists of some sandstone tenement housing, tower blocks and modern brick tenement-style buildings...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Smith was educated at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in preparation for ministry in the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
but left before graduating. He worked as a personal tutor and, accompanying a family to Gießen
Gießen
Gießen, also spelt Giessen is a town in the German federal state of Hesse, capital of both the district of Gießen and the administrative region of Gießen...
in 1839, he stayed on in Germany to study 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....
under Justus von Liebig
Justus von Liebig
Justus von Liebig was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry. As a professor, he devised the modern laboratory-oriented teaching method, and for such innovations, he is regarded as one of the...
, earning a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1841.
On returning to England the same year, he again considered Holy Orders but instead was attracted to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
to join the chemical laboratory of Lyon Playfair at the Royal Manchester Institution
Royal Manchester Institution
The Royal Manchester Institution was an English learned society founded on 1 October 1823 at a public meeting held in the Exchange Room by Manchester merchants, local artists and others keen to dispel the image of Manchester as a city lacking in culture and taste.The Institution was housed in a...
. Here he became involved in some of the environmental issues of the world's first industrial city (see History of Manchester
History of Manchester
The history of Manchester encompasses its change from a minor Lancastrian township into the pre-eminent industrial metropolis of the United Kingdom and the world. Manchester began expanding "at an astonishing rate" around the turn of the 19th century as part of a process of unplanned urbanisation...
). Playfair left for greener pastures in 1845 and Smith worked at making a living as an independent analytical chemist
Analytical chemistry
Analytical chemistry is the study of the separation, identification, and quantification of the chemical components of natural and artificial materials. Qualitative analysis gives an indication of the identity of the chemical species in the sample and quantitative analysis determines the amount of...
. After some initial alarming experiences, Smith refused to take on expert witness
Expert witness
An expert witness, professional witness or judicial expert is a witness, who by virtue of education, training, skill, or experience, is believed to have expertise and specialised knowledge in a particular subject beyond that of the average person, sufficient that others may officially and legally...
work which was a staple of consulting scientists of the day and which he saw as corrupt. Consequently, when the Alkali Inspectorate was established by the Alkali Act 1863
Alkali Act 1863
Under the British Alkali Act 1863, an Alkali inspector and four subinspectors were appointed to curb discharge into the air of hydrogen chloride from the Leblanc alkali works.In 1874 the Inspector became the Chief Inspector...
, Smith's integrity made him the natural candidate. He held the post until his death. He is buried in the graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
of St Paul's Church on Kersal Moor
Kersal Moor
Kersal Moor is a recreation area in Kersal, within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England, consisting of eight hectares of moorland, bounded by Moor Lane, Heathlands Road, St...
, Salford
In 1872 Smith published the book Air and Rain: the Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology, which presents his studies of the chemistry of atmospheric
Earth's atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention , and reducing temperature extremes between day and night...
precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
. After his death his collection of books was acquired by the library of Owens College, Manchester.