George Beilby facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir George Thomas Beilby
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George Thomas Beilby
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| Born | 17 November 1850 Edinburgh, Scotland
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| Died | 1 August 1924 (aged 73) |
| Nationality | British |
| Known for | hydrogen cyanide |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | chemistry |
Sir George Thomas Beilby (1850–1924) was a brilliant British chemist. He made important discoveries that helped industries like oil and gold mining. He was also a leader in many science groups.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Thomas Beilby was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1850. His father was a doctor. He went to school at Edinburgh Academy and then studied at Edinburgh University.
Career and Discoveries
In 1869, George Beilby started working at the Oakbank Oil Company. He worked in the oil shale industry. This industry gets oil and other things from rocks called oil shale. George and his friend William Young found ways to get more oil, ammonia, and other useful materials from the shale. They did this by improving how they heated and separated the materials. Their special method was patented in 1882.
Later, in 1892, Beilby invented a new way to make hydrogen cyanide. This chemical was very important for getting gold out of rocks. His new method used ammonia and coal. It helped meet the growing demand for sodium cyanide in gold mining. He became a director of the successful Cassel Cyanide Company. He also helped the Castner-Kellner Company build a new factory.
Honours and Leadership Roles
George Beilby was recognized for his important work. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in May 1906. This is a very high honour for scientists. He was known for inventing ways to make chemicals like cyanides and ammonia. He also studied how metals behave, discovering new things about their structure.
He was a leader in many important science organizations. He was president of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1899. He also led the chemical section of the British Association in 1905. From 1909 to 1912, he was president of the Institute of Chemistry. He also led the Institute of Metals from 1916 to 1918.
During World War I, he helped the Navy. He was a member of the Royal Commission on Fuel and Engines for the Navy in 1912. He also joined the Admiralty Board of Invention and Research. In 1916, he was knighted, which means he received the title "Sir."
Personal Life and Legacy
In 1877, George Beilby married Emma Clarke Newnham. She was known as Lady Beilby. She strongly supported women's organizations. They had a son named Hubert and a daughter named Winifred. Winifred later married the famous chemist Frederick Soddy. George Beilby even helped support some of his son-in-law's research.
Sir George Thomas Beilby passed away in Hampstead, London, in 1924.
To remember his contributions, the Beilby Medal and Prize is named in his honour. This award is given to scientists by three important organizations: the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Society of Chemical Industry.
