Thomas Summers West
Encyclopedia
Thomas Summers West, FRS (18 Nov 1927 - 9 Jan 2010) was a British
chemist
.
He was born in 1927 in Peterhead
, Scotland
and educated at Old Tarbat Public School in Portmahomack and then Tain Royal Academy
. He then studied chemistry and obtained a B.Sc degree at Aberdeen University.
He moved to Birmingham University in 1949 to carry out research in analytical chemistry under Professor Ron Belcher and obtained his Ph.D in 1952 and his D.Sc in 1962. In 1963 he moved to Imperial College in London as Reader in Analytical Chemistry and became Professor Of Analytical Chemistry at Imperial College in 1965. He established a world famous research team that included Roy Dagnall, Gordon Kirkright and Bernard Fleet who were pioneers in the field of analytical atomic absorption spectroscopy
and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy.
He became Director of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research
in 1975 retiring in 1987. During this period he worked on a number of Royal Commissions and was Chairman of the Scientific Committee of Sir John May's investigation into the IRA
Woolwich and Guildford bombings from 1991 to 1993. He also served as Chairman of Panels I and III on the Royal Society, International Relations Committee during the 1990s
He was an editor and publisher of Scientific books and articles including 408 articles in scientific journals around the world between 1951 and 1986 either in his own name or co-written with fellow chemists as well as books that include
He was awarded a CBE
in 1987 and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
in 1989. He was made Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Aberdeen University in 1987 having been an Honorary Professor of Aberdeen University between 1983 and 1987 He was President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
between 1977 and 1979 and its Secretary General between 1983 and 1991. He was also President of the Society for Analytical Chemistry
betwenn 1969 and 1971, and Honorary Secretary of the Chemical Society
between 1972 and 1975.
In March 1989 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The citation on his application read: "Distinguished for his contributions to analytical atomic and molecular spectroscopy. His early work at Birmingham on molecular spectroscopic studies of analytical chelate chemistry was of great importance and included his interpretation of the only known positive colour reaction of the fluoride ion. This reaction has replaced all other spectrophotometric reactions for fluoride. His evolution of the unique conditionally specific reaction between calcium and a new specially synthesised trihydroxytrisazo clathrate cage dyestuff molecule was also outstanding. His work on quartz fibre torsion ultramicrobalances and thereafter on a complete system of ultramicroscopic organic elemental and functional group analysis is also notable. At Imperial College, he created a new research group to work on analytical atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. Under West's leadership this group very quickly became established as a leading centre of research in these fields. His many contributions included those to electrothermal methods of atomisation, microwave-excited atomic spectral lamps, low-luminosity flames, and atom-trapping techniques. At Aberdeen he has continued work in these fields. He has also contributed to the use of piezo-electric crystal sensor systems for the measurement of minute traces of airborne pollutants. He has collaborated in work on bio-significant and toxic trace elements in the soil-plant ecosystem and on acidification phenomena. West has served widely on many national and international committees and is at present Secretary-General of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry."
He married Margaret Officer Lawson in 1952 and had three children, Ann, Ruth (Byrd) and Tom. He died in Lincoln County Hospital on January 9, 2010 of heart failure; his wife Margaret, died the following day also in Lincoln County Hospital from Cancer.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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...
.
He was born in 1927 in Peterhead
Peterhead
Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is Aberdeenshire's biggest settlement , with a population of 17,947 at the 2001 Census and estimated to have fallen to 17,330 by 2006....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and educated at Old Tarbat Public School in Portmahomack and then Tain Royal Academy
Tain
Tain is a royal burgh and post town in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland.-Etymology:...
. He then studied chemistry and obtained a B.Sc degree at Aberdeen University.
He moved to Birmingham University in 1949 to carry out research in analytical chemistry under Professor Ron Belcher and obtained his Ph.D in 1952 and his D.Sc in 1962. In 1963 he moved to Imperial College in London as Reader in Analytical Chemistry and became Professor Of Analytical Chemistry at Imperial College in 1965. He established a world famous research team that included Roy Dagnall, Gordon Kirkright and Bernard Fleet who were pioneers in the field of analytical atomic absorption spectroscopy
Atomic absorption spectroscopy
Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a spectroanalytical procedure for the qualitative and quantitative determination of chemical elements employing the absorption of optical radiation by free atoms in the gaseous state. In analytical chemistry the technique is used for determining the concentration...
and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy.
He became Director of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research
Macaulay Institute
The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute is a research institute based at Aberdeen in Scotland...
in 1975 retiring in 1987. During this period he worked on a number of Royal Commissions and was Chairman of the Scientific Committee of Sir John May's investigation into the IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
Woolwich and Guildford bombings from 1991 to 1993. He also served as Chairman of Panels I and III on the Royal Society, International Relations Committee during the 1990s
He was an editor and publisher of Scientific books and articles including 408 articles in scientific journals around the world between 1951 and 1986 either in his own name or co-written with fellow chemists as well as books that include
- New Methods of Analytical Chemistry in association with Professor R Belcher from Birmingham University and Professor C.L.Wilson from Belfast University, 1955
- Complexometry with EDTA and related reagants, 1969
- Analytical Chemistry in 1973.
He was awarded a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1987 and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
in 1989. He was made Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at Aberdeen University in 1987 having been an Honorary Professor of Aberdeen University between 1983 and 1987 He was President of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations that represents chemists in individual countries. It is a member of the International Council for Science . The international headquarters of IUPAC is located in Zürich,...
between 1977 and 1979 and its Secretary General between 1983 and 1991. He was also President of the Society for Analytical Chemistry
Society for Analytical Chemistry
The Society of Public Analysts was formed in the United Kingdom in 1874 and subsequently became the Society for Analytical Chemistry. It was incorporated in 1907....
betwenn 1969 and 1971, and Honorary Secretary of the Chemical Society
Chemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
between 1972 and 1975.
In March 1989 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. The citation on his application read: "Distinguished for his contributions to analytical atomic and molecular spectroscopy. His early work at Birmingham on molecular spectroscopic studies of analytical chelate chemistry was of great importance and included his interpretation of the only known positive colour reaction of the fluoride ion. This reaction has replaced all other spectrophotometric reactions for fluoride. His evolution of the unique conditionally specific reaction between calcium and a new specially synthesised trihydroxytrisazo clathrate cage dyestuff molecule was also outstanding. His work on quartz fibre torsion ultramicrobalances and thereafter on a complete system of ultramicroscopic organic elemental and functional group analysis is also notable. At Imperial College, he created a new research group to work on analytical atomic absorption and atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. Under West's leadership this group very quickly became established as a leading centre of research in these fields. His many contributions included those to electrothermal methods of atomisation, microwave-excited atomic spectral lamps, low-luminosity flames, and atom-trapping techniques. At Aberdeen he has continued work in these fields. He has also contributed to the use of piezo-electric crystal sensor systems for the measurement of minute traces of airborne pollutants. He has collaborated in work on bio-significant and toxic trace elements in the soil-plant ecosystem and on acidification phenomena. West has served widely on many national and international committees and is at present Secretary-General of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry."
He married Margaret Officer Lawson in 1952 and had three children, Ann, Ruth (Byrd) and Tom. He died in Lincoln County Hospital on January 9, 2010 of heart failure; his wife Margaret, died the following day also in Lincoln County Hospital from Cancer.