Joseph Mellor facts for kids
Joseph William Mellor (1868–1938) was an English chemist. He was also an expert on ceramics, which are things made from clay and hardened by heat, like pottery or bricks. Joseph Mellor grew up in New Zealand. He was known for his important scientific work.
Early Life and Education
Joseph William Mellor was born in Lindley, Huddersfield, England, in 1869. When he was about ten years old, in 1879, his family moved to New Zealand. They settled in a town called Kaiapoi. Joseph went to Kaiapoi School there. For two years, he worked at the Kaiapoi Woollen Company.
In 1881, his family moved again to Dunedin. Joseph attended Linden School in the suburb of Kaikorai Valley. His family did not have enough money to send him to high school. But Joseph loved learning. He kept studying on his own in his free time. He also took classes at King Edward Technical College. Joseph Mellor worked very hard. He graduated from the University of Otago in 1898. After that, he won a special scholarship. This allowed him to study for a research degree at the University of Manchester in England.
Career in the United Kingdom
Joseph Mellor never went back to New Zealand to live. However, he stayed in touch with his family there. He even represented New Zealand as a governor for Imperial College in London.
After three years of study in Manchester, he moved to north Staffordshire. This area was famous for its pottery and ceramics industry. Mellor began doing research there, focusing on ceramics. In 1910, several towns in the area joined together to form Stoke-on-Trent. They decided to build a new technical college. This college opened in 1914. Joseph Mellor became its first Principal. The college taught about ceramics and mining. It even received a special library for ceramics from the Carnegie UK Trust.
During the First World War, Mellor's research became very important. He focused on refractories. These are special materials that can handle very high temperatures. They were crucial for making steel, which was needed for the war effort. Mellor was offered a high honor for his help. But he turned it down. He said he gave his scientific knowledge freely to help his country. He felt it was his way to contribute since he was too unwell to join the army.
Joseph Mellor wrote many scientific books. One of his most famous works was a sixteen-volume set. It was published in 1922. It was called A Comprehensive Treatise on Inorganic and Theoretical Chemistry. He dedicated this huge work to the many chemists whose names were forgotten but whose work remained important.
Honors and Awards
Joseph Mellor received many important awards for his work. In 1927, he was elected to the Royal Society. This is a very old and respected group of scientists. He was only the second person to be chosen for his work in ceramics. The first was Josiah Wedgwood, a famous potter from the 1700s.
In 1938, Joseph Mellor was also made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a special award given by the British King or Queen. It recognizes people who have made a big difference in their field.
