Ian Heilbron facts for kids

Sir Ian Heilbron (born Isidor Morris Heilbron) was a Scottish chemist. He was born on November 6, 1886, and passed away on September 14, 1959. He was a very important scientist who helped create new ways to use organic chemistry. This type of chemistry studies carbon-based compounds, which are found in all living things. His work was used to make new medicines and industrial products.

Early Life and Education

Isidor Morris Heilbron was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, David Heilbron, was a wine merchant, and his mother was Fanny Jessel. His family was Jewish.

He went to Glasgow High School. Then he studied at the Royal Technical College with a teacher named G. G. Henderson. He won a special scholarship called a Carnegie Fellowship. This allowed him to study at the University of Leipzig in Germany. There, he worked on his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) from 1907 to 1910. A Ph.D. is a very high university degree that shows you have done a lot of original research.

Later, in 1918, he earned another high degree, a D.Sc. (Doctor of Science), from the University of Glasgow. He got this for his important research papers on chemical compounds.

Military Service and War Work

From 1910 to 1920, Ian Heilbron served in the Royal Army Service Corps. This part of the army was in charge of supplies and transport. He was given the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1918. This award recognized his excellent service during military operations in Salonika, Greece. The Greek government also honored him with the title of Officer of the Order of the Redeemer. He reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, helping to manage army supplies.

During the Second World War, from 1939 to 1942, he used his scientific knowledge to help the British government. He worked as a science advisor for the Department of Scientific Research. This department was part of the Ministry of Supply, which made sure the army had what it needed. After 1942, he became a science advisor for the Ministry of Production. This ministry focused on making goods for the war effort.

Career in Chemistry

Sir Ian Heilbron's main research focused on the chemistry of natural products. These are chemical substances that come from plants, animals, or other living things. He studied important substances like vitamin D and vitamin A. His work helped us understand how these vital compounds are made and how they work.

He also played a key role in developing DDT. This chemical was used as an insecticide to fight diseases like malaria and yellow fever, which are spread by insects. Heilbron also worked with another chemist, Arthur Herbert Cook, to study penicillin. Penicillin was one of the first and most important antibiotics, used to treat bacterial infections.

Key Positions Held

Sir Ian Heilbron held many important jobs during his career:

• He started as a lecturer at the Royal Technical College from 1909 to 1914.
• He worked as a scientist and consultant for British Dyestuffs Corp. This company later became Imperial Chemical Industries, a very large chemical company.
• From 1919 to 1920, he was a professor of organic chemistry at the Royal Technical College.
• He became a professor at the University of Liverpool from 1920 to 1933.
• From 1933 to 1938, he was a professor at the University of Manchester.
• He then became a professor of organic chemistry and director of laboratories at Imperial College from 1938 to 1949.
• In 1949, he retired from teaching and university research.
• After retiring from academia, he became the director of the Brewing Industry Research Foundation from 1949 to 1958.
• He also led the Advisory Council of the Royal Military College of Science.
• He was the editor-in-chief of a major chemistry book called the "Dictionary of Organic Compounds." He also chaired the editorial board for "Thorpe’s Dictionary of Applied Chemistry."

Awards and Honours

Sir Ian Heilbron received many awards for his important contributions to science:

• 1911: He became a Fellow of the Institute of Chemistry (F.I.C.).
• 1931: He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
• 1939: He received the Longstaff Medal from the Chemical Society of London.
• 1943: The Royal Society awarded him the Davy Medal. This was for his many important discoveries in organic chemistry, especially about natural products that are important for health.
• 1945: The American Chemical Society gave him its highest award, the Priestley Medal. He was the first non-American to receive this honor.
• 1946: He was made a Knight Bachelor by the King. This meant he could use the title "Sir" before his name, recognizing his important work during the war.
• 1951: He received the Royal Medal from the Royal Society.