William Moffitt
Encyclopedia
William E. Moffitt was a British
quantum chemist. He died after a heart attack following a squash
match. He had been thought to be one of Britain’s most gifted academics.
, Germany
, and was educated by private tuition up to the age of 11. He attended Harrow School
from 1936-43. His chemistry master later said of him that “he was undoubtably the most able of a decade of gifted boys ... [and] has a profound effect on all who met him. He did more than anyone to create in the school the intellectual climate so necessary for the stimulation of young minds.”
, under an open scholarship, and graduated with first class honours. His D.Phil. supervisor Coulson later wrote:
After receiving his D.Phil. for research in quantum chemistry
, he joined the research staff of the British Rubber Producers Research Association
.
He was made an Assistant Professor at Harvard in January 1953, and was give an A.M Honoris Causa in 1955. His colleague Edgar Bright Wilson said:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
quantum chemist. He died after a heart attack following a squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
match. He had been thought to be one of Britain’s most gifted academics.
Early life
Moffitt was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and was educated by private tuition up to the age of 11. He attended Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
from 1936-43. His chemistry master later said of him that “he was undoubtably the most able of a decade of gifted boys ... [and] has a profound effect on all who met him. He did more than anyone to create in the school the intellectual climate so necessary for the stimulation of young minds.”
Academic career
He then studied chemistry at New College, OxfordNew College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
, under an open scholarship, and graduated with first class honours. His D.Phil. supervisor Coulson later wrote:
[his] exuberant delight in life remained with him to the end. “Moffit's method of Atoms in Molecules” will remain for many years to remind us of his remarkable ability to initiate new ways of thinking in his professional subject.
After receiving his D.Phil. for research in quantum chemistry
Quantum chemistry
Quantum chemistry is a branch of chemistry whose primary focus is the application of quantum mechanics in physical models and experiments of chemical systems...
, he joined the research staff of the British Rubber Producers 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....
.
He was made an Assistant Professor at Harvard in January 1953, and was give an A.M Honoris Causa in 1955. His colleague Edgar Bright Wilson said:
Few men had as great an impact at so early an age. The reasons are clear. Few have been endowed with such a sparkling, quick and keen intelligence, with such a capacity for spending long hours in the thorough study of fundamental subjects ... His intellectual powers were not only applied to the solution of problems but perhaps even more to their wise selection. He avoided areas where only formal solutions were attainable, with no contact with experience.