Harold Warris Thompson facts for kids
Sir Harold Warris Thompson (born 15 February 1908, died 31 December 1983) was an important English scientist. He was a physical chemist, which means he studied how chemicals behave. He was also a spectroscopist, someone who uses light to learn about different materials. Besides his science work, he was also the chairman of the Football Association (FA).
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Early Life and Learning
Harold Thompson was born in Wombwell, a town in Yorkshire, England. His father, William Thompson, worked as a leader in a coal mine. Harold went to King Edward VII School in Sheffield. After that, he studied at Trinity College at Oxford. There, a famous scientist named Cyril Norman Hinshelwood was his teacher.
Amazing Chemistry Discoveries
Harold Thompson finished his studies in 1929. He then went to Berlin, Germany, to work with two very famous scientists: Fritz Haber and Max Planck. In 1930, he earned his Ph.D. (a very high university degree) from the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin.
He returned to Oxford and became a Fellow at St John's College, Oxford. Later, he became the Vice-President of the college.
What He Studied
Harold Thompson was very interested in how chemicals react, especially in gases. He also studied photochemistry, which is how light affects chemical reactions. His main area of study was spectroscopy. This is a way to learn about materials by looking at how they interact with light.
During World War II, he used his skills to help his country. He worked on infra-red spectroscopy for the government, which was important for aircraft production. After the war, he continued his research in this field.
Teaching at Oxford
People said that Thompson was a very inspiring teacher. One of his students at Oxford was Margaret Thatcher. She later became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom!
His Love for Football
Harold Thompson loved football very much. He was a great player himself and earned a special award called a "blue" in his last year at Oxford. He stayed involved with the Oxford University Association Football Club for most of his life. He even helped make the Varsity match (a game between Oxford and Cambridge universities) a big event at Wembley.
In 1948, he started his own football club called the Pegasus Club. Later, he became the chairman of the Football Association (FA) from 1976 to 1981. This is a very important job in English football.
Big Decisions in Football
Thompson was involved in some big decisions in English football. For example, he played a major part in the decision to remove Sir Alf Ramsey as the manager of the England team in 1974. Sir Alf Ramsey was the manager who led England to win the World Cup! England had not qualified for the World Cup that year, so a change was made.
A journalist named Leo McKinstry wrote that Sir Alf Ramsey's great success might have been remembered even more if it wasn't for Harold Thompson's actions. Thompson also made sure that another very successful club manager, Brian Clough, never became the England manager.
Awards and Recognition
Harold Thompson received many important awards for his work.
- In 1946, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
- He was made a knight in 1968, which is why he was called "Sir Harold."
- In 1971, he received a special French award called the "chevalier of the Légion d’honneur."
In 1981, Thompson also helped start the World Cultural Council. This group works to promote education, art, and science around the world.
His Legacy in Science
For 30 years, Thompson helped edit a science magazine called Spectrochimica Acta Part A. After he passed away, the magazine dedicated an entire issue to his memory in 1985. It included articles from his students and colleagues.
In 1986, the magazine created the "Sir Harold Thompson Memorial Award." This award is given every year to the authors of the most important science article published in the magazine.
Family Life
Harold Thompson married Grace Penelope Stradling in 1938. They had two children together. He passed away on 31 December 1983.
