Ben Lockspeiser facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Ben Lockspeiser KCB FRS
Sir Ben Lockspeiser © National Portrait Gallery, London
Born	Ben Lockspeiser (1891-03-09)9 March 1891 City of London
Died	18 October 1990(1990-10-18) (aged 99) Farnborough
Nationality	British
Education	Grocers' School, Hackney
Alma mater	Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Known for	Secretary of DSIR First President of CERN
Spouse(s)	Elsie Shuttleworth (1920-1964) Mary Alice Heywood (1966-1983)
Children	Judith, Frida and David
Awards	See list
Scientific career
Institutions	RAE Air Ministry DSIR

Sir Ben Lockspeiser (born March 9, 1891 – died October 18, 1990) was a very important British scientist and administrator. He is best known for being the first ever President of CERN, a huge European organization for nuclear research. He also played a key role in scientific developments in Britain, especially during and after World War II.

Early Life and School Days

Ben Lockspeiser was born in the City of London. He was the oldest son of Leon Lockspeiser, a diamond merchant, and Rosa. His parents had moved to Britain from Poland.

Ben spent most of his childhood in Clapton, east London. He went to the Grocers' School in Hackney. When he was just fifteen, he won a special award. It was for being "the best junior boy in all England" in a big exam from the University of Cambridge.

Two years later, he won a scholarship to Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. There, he studied natural sciences and mechanical sciences. He did very well in his studies.

A Career in Science and Leadership

Serving in World War I

When World War I started, Ben Lockspeiser joined the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC). In 1915, he went to Gallipoli as a private soldier. He soon became ill and had to leave. He then worked in Egypt for a while, helping to find a treatment for the disease.

Working with Aircraft

After the war, in 1919, Ben returned to England. He started working at the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) in Farnborough. His main jobs involved finding ways to stop aircraft from icing up. He also studied how metals get tired and break, which is called metal fatigue. In 1936, he became the head of the RAE's air defence department.

World War II Contributions

In 1939, Ben moved to the Air Ministry. He helped with scientific research for the war effort. In 1940, he joined the new Ministry of Aircraft Production. By 1945, he was the director-general of scientific research there.

He is famous for suggesting a clever system for the "Dam Busters" raid. This system used spotlights to help pilots fly at the correct height. The film The Dam Busters (film) gives credit to someone else, but it was actually Ben's idea!

Post-War Scientific Leadership

After the war, in 1946, Ben Lockspeiser became the chief scientist for the Ministry of Supply. He was involved in many secret and important projects. These included developing Britain's own atomic bomb. He also worked on supersonic flight (flying faster than sound) and guided weapons.

He was also a big supporter of early electronic computers. He helped with the development of the Ferranti Mark 1 computer. For all his important work, he was made a knight in 1946.

Leading Major Projects

In 1949, Sir Ben became the secretary of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). This role allowed him to influence many major projects.

He helped with the Festival of Britain in 1951. He also supported the creation of the National Lending Library for Science and Technology in 1952. He was a key figure in the building of Bernard Lovell's Jodrell Bank radio telescope in 1954.

One of his most important roles was helping to create CERN. CERN is a huge European organization for nuclear research. Sir Ben Lockspeiser was its first president from 1955 to 1957.

Retirement and Later Life

Sir Ben retired in 1956. After retiring, he joined the boards of several companies. He worked as a scientific consultant, helping these companies with their research and development. He found this role much more relaxing after his busy official career, especially during the war.

In the 1950s, Sir Ben often shared his ideas in the news. He talked about many topics, from preventing waste to the future of airports. He even imagined a car that could also fly like a helicopter! He also predicted that offices would use smart electronic machines. He believed these machines would make many clerical jobs unnecessary.

Sir Ben also joined a group of famous people, including Benjamin Britten, to ask for the abolition of hanging. This was a form of punishment in Britain. It was eventually abolished ten years later.

He received many special honors for his work. These included honorary doctorates from the University of Oxford in 1954, the University of the Witwatersrand in 1949, and Haifa Technion in 1952.

Personal Life

In 1920, Ben Lockspeiser married Elsie Shuttleworth, who was a botanist. They had three children: Judith, Frida, and David. Their son, David, grew up to become a test pilot and an aircraft designer. Elsie passed away in 1964.

Two years later, in 1966, he married Mary Alice Heywood. She was the widow of an old friend from the RAE. Mary Alice died in 1983.

Sir Ben was a very talented musician from a young age. He played both the piano and the cello. In 1922, he started the RAE Orchestral Society. This group later became the Farnborough Symphony Orchestra. He also loved gardening.

Sir Ben Lockspeiser passed away on October 18, 1990. He was at his home in Farnborough, just five months before his 100th birthday.

Honors and Awards

• 1944 Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS)
• 1946 Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (FIMechE)
• 1946 American Medal of Freedom (silver palms)
• 1949 Fellow of the Royal Society
• 1949 Honorary Doctor of Science in engineering, University of the Witwatersrand
• 1950 KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath)
• 1952 Doctor of Science in technology, Haifa Technion
• 1953 Honorary Fellow of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
• 1954 Honorary doctorate, University of Oxford
• 1976 Fellow of the Fellowship of Engineering (FEng)