Robert Whytlaw-Gray

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox scientist Robert H. Whytlaw-Gray, OBE, FRS<ref name="frs">Template:Cite journal</ref> (14 June 1877 – 29 January 1958) was an English chemist, born in London. He studied at the University of Glasgow and University College London and was Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Leeds. He and William Ramsay isolated radon and studied its physical properties (density, weight).<ref name=ucl>Template:Cite web[]</ref>

Early life and education

Robert Whytlaw-Gray (also Robert Whytlaw Whytlaw-Gray)<ref>In his marriage certificate, the citation for his OBE, and in the probate register after his death he is shown as Robert Whytlaw Whytlaw-Gray. The register for his birth, however, names him as Robert Whytlaw-Gray)</ref> was born in Hampstead on 14 June 1877, son of Robert James Gray and Mary Gilkieson Gemmell Whytlaw.

His early education was at St Paul’s School, where little science was taught. When he was about 12, Whytlaw-Gray set up a laboratory at home and taught himself chemistry. At eighteen he went to the University of Glasgow to study engineering and it was there that he heard a lecture by William Ramsay<ref>Robert Whytlaw-Gray, E G Cox and J Hume, Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, Vol 4 (Nov 1958), pp 326-339</ref> which so inspired him that he determined to go to University College London (UCL), to study under him. This he did, from 1896, so successfully that he won the Tufnell Scholarship in chemistry in 1898. The prize is awarded to “the best graduate, under the age of 24, progressing to the Research School”<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which presumably means Whytlaw-Gray gained a first degree, although there is no formal record of this. In 1903 he joined Anschütz’s lab at the University of Bonn, where he worked on the atomic weight of nitrogen and where he was awarded a PhD in 1906.

Academic career

On his return to UCL Whytlaw-Gray was appointed to Ramsay’s staff, and made Assistant Professor in 1908. He worked on the physical properties of radon,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> resigning his post in 1914.

The following year he started as a temporary science master at Eton. Later Whytlaw-Gray was appointed a civilian chemical adviser to the Chemical Warfare Committee. He started work on aerosols and toxic smokes, assisted by J B Speakman.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> These researches were of great practical value in the war effort, and continued for many years.

In 1923 he was appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Head of the Chemistry Department at the University of Leeds in succession to Arthur Smithells. He stayed at Leeds for 22 years.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The University conferred on him the title of Emeritus Professor on his retirement and, in 1950, the degree of DSc honoris causa.

Honours

Whytlaw-Gray was awarded the OBE in 1920.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in 1928.<ref name=frs/>

Personal life

Whytlaw-Gray married Doris Fortescue Carr at St Stephen Walbrook on 22 July 1911. They had two daughters, Philippa Mary (born 1915) and Alianore Doris (born 1916).

Death

Whytlaw-Gray died on 21 January 1958, aged 80<ref>The National Probate Calendar entry has the wrong date of death: 21 January 1959</ref> at The Cottage Hospital, Welwyn Garden City. His wife died in 1961.