Charles Coulson facts for kids

Charles Alfred Coulson (13 December 1910 – 7 January 1974) was a brilliant British scientist. He was an applied mathematician and a theoretical chemist. This means he used math to understand how chemicals work.

Coulson was a pioneer in applying quantum theory to understand how molecules are built. He studied their structure, how they move, and how they react with other chemicals. Beyond science, he was also a dedicated Methodist lay preacher. He helped lead the World Council of Churches and was chairman of Oxfam, a charity that fights poverty.

Early Life and Education

Charles Coulson and his younger twin brother, John Metcalfe Coulson, were born in Dudley, England. Their parents were both teachers. Their father, Alfred, led a technical college. Their mother, Annie, was a headmistress at an elementary school. Their home was very religious and followed the Methodist faith.

When Charles and John were 10, their family moved to Bristol. Charles was very smart. At 13, he won a scholarship to Clifton College. This school was known for its strong focus on science and math. His success there helped him get another scholarship. In 1928, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge to study mathematics.

His brother John also did very well in school. He later became a professor of Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University. He even wrote important textbooks on chemical engineering.

University Days at Cambridge

At Cambridge, Charles first studied advanced mathematics. He earned top marks in his university exams in 1931. A year later, he also got a First Class in physics. He won many awards during his time as a student. Some of his famous teachers included Lord Rutherford and Sir Arthur Eddington.

In 1932, Coulson started his advanced studies. He worked with Sir John Lennard-Jones. In 1936, he earned his Ph.D. for his work on the electronic structure of methane. By this time, he had already published 11 scientific papers! He continued his research at Cambridge for two more years.

Charles became a lay preacher in 1929. He said his faith became much deeper after an event in 1930. His religious views were shaped by people like physicist Sir Arthur Eddington.

While at Cambridge, Charles met Eileen Florence Burrett. She was studying to become a teacher. They met through university Methodist groups. They got married in 1938. They had three children: Christopher, Janet, and Wendy.

Moving to St. Andrews and Oxford

In 1939, Coulson became a senior lecturer in mathematics. This was at University College, Dundee, which was part of the University of St. Andrews. During World War II, Coulson was a conscientious objector. This means he refused to fight in the war because of his beliefs. He had a very busy job, teaching math, physics, and chemistry.

He was recognized for his scientific work. In 1941, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 1950, he became a Fellow of the important Royal Society of London.

In 1945, Coulson moved to Oxford University. He became a lecturer in physical chemistry. He also held a special fellowship from Imperial Chemical Industries. Some of his students at Oxford became very successful. For example, Peter Higgs later won the Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Higgs boson.

Leading the Way at King's College, London

In 1947, Coulson accepted a special professor position. He became the Professor of Theoretical Physics at King's College, London. A science magazine called Nature said he was one of the best scientists in Britain. He was known for his work on quantum theory. He studied many things, from how radiation affects tiny living things to the structure of large molecules. He was also known for helping younger scientists.

His team at King's College worked on exciting new ideas. They explored how computers could help with their theories. The whole department was buzzing with new discoveries in the 1950s. Coulson's group published over a hundred papers in just five years! They studied the chemical bond, how chemicals react, and the properties of different materials.

Return to Oxford

In 1952, Coulson was appointed the Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He also became a Fellow of Wadham College. In his first lecture, he described applied mathematics as an "intellectual adventure." He believed it combined creativity and beauty to help us understand the world.

Coulson played a big part in creating the Mathematical Institute. He soon became its director. The institute's website describes him as someone who did "twice as much as any normal academic person." He was known for explaining complex ideas clearly. He worked tirelessly for science, math, and for people.

In 1972, Coulson was given a new special role. He became the first professor of theoretical chemistry at Oxford.

Helping Others: Religious and Social Work

Besides his amazing science, Coulson was a deeply religious Christian. He served as a Methodist local preacher. He wrote books like Science, Technology and the Christian (1953) and Science and Christian Belief (1955). In these books, he showed how his scientific and religious views fit together. He believed that faith was important for using science responsibly.

He was a pacifist and a conscientious objector, meaning he believed in peace and refused to fight in wars. Yet, he supported the development of nuclear energy for peaceful uses. He encouraged scientists to help improve food production in poorer countries. He was the chairman of Oxfam from 1965 to 1971. Charles also reached many people through his BBC radio broadcasts. He shared his faith in a kind and often funny way.

See also

• Coulson–Fischer theory
• Chirgwin–Coulson weights
• Bent's rule
• Valence bond theory
• Molecular orbital
• List of science and religion scholars
• List of chemists