Leonard Rotherham facts for kids

Leonard "Larry" Rotherham was a very important British metallurgist. A metallurgist is a scientist who studies metals. They learn how metals are made, how they behave, and how to make them stronger or more useful. Leonard Rotherham was also the vice-chancellor of the University of Bath. He is especially known for leading the team that investigated the de Havilland Comet airliner crashes. These crashes happened because of something called metal fatigue around the windows.

Leonard Rotherham's Early Life and Studies

Leonard Rotherham was born on August 31, 1913. His birthplace was Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England. He went to school at Herbert Strutt School in Belper.

After school, he continued his education at University College London. This is where he studied to become a physicist.

A Life Dedicated to Metals and Science

From 1935 to 1946, Leonard Rotherham worked as a physicist. He was at Brown Firth Research Laboratories. Here, he focused on special alloys that could withstand very high temperatures.

In 1946, he became the head of the Metallurgy Department. This was at the RAE Farnborough, a famous research center. He stayed there until 1954.

Investigating the Comet Crashes

While at RAE Farnborough, Leonard Rotherham led a crucial team. They investigated the crashes of the de Havilland Comet. The Comet was one of the world's first jet airliners.

The team discovered that the crashes were caused by "metal fatigue." This happens when metal gets weak and breaks after being used many times. Think of bending a paperclip back and forth until it snaps. In the Comet's case, the metal around the square windows became weak. This was a major discovery that changed how airplanes were designed to be safer.

Work with Atomic Energy and Electricity

After his time at Farnborough, Rotherham took on new challenges. In 1954, he became the director of Research and Development. This was for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Industrial Group. This group worked on using atomic energy for peaceful purposes, like generating electricity.

In 1958, he joined the CEGB. This stands for the Central Electricity Generating Board. He was the member for Research there. He worked on improving how electricity was produced and supplied. He held this important role until 1969.

Becoming a University Leader

In 1969, Leonard Rotherham took on a new leadership role. He was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Bath. The vice-chancellor is like the head of the university. He led the university until he retired in 1976.

After retiring, he continued to be involved in education and industry. He became a governor of Imperial College, London. He also served as a director for a company called Chemring plc.

Honors and Achievements

Leonard Rotherham received many important awards for his work. In 1963, he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom. It means he was recognized as one of the best scientists in his field.

In 1970, he was appointed a CBE. This is an award given by the British monarch for outstanding achievements. In 1976, the University of Bath also gave him an Honorary Degree. This was a Doctor of Science degree, recognizing his great contributions.

Personal Life

Leonard Rotherham married Nora Thompson in 1937. They had one son and two daughters. Nora passed away in 1991. Leonard Rotherham himself passed away on March 21, 2001, at the age of 87.