Peter Gray (chemist) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Gray
Born	(1926-08-25)25 August 1926 Newport
Died	7 June 2012(2012-06-07) (aged 85)
Alma mater	Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University of Cambridge
Spouse(s)	Barbara Gray (died 1992), Rachel Gray
Awards	Italgas Prize (1988) Bernard Lewis Gold Medal (1978) Marlow Medal (1958) Meldola Medal (1956) FRS
Scientific career
Fields	Chemistry
Institutions	University of Cambridge University of Leeds

Peter Gray (born August 25, 1926 – died June 7, 2012) was a very important scientist. He was a professor who studied Physical Chemistry at the University of Leeds. Later, he became the leader, called a Master, of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, which is part of the famous University of Cambridge. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a big honor for scientists.

Early Life and School

Peter Gray grew up in Newport, Wales. He went to Newport High School there. After high school, he went to the University of Cambridge. He studied Natural Sciences and earned his first degree in 1946. Three years later, in 1949, he earned his PhD in Chemistry.

His Career as a Scientist

In 1955, Peter Gray started working at the University of Leeds as a lecturer in Chemistry. He was very good at his job. In 1959, he became a Reader, which is a higher academic rank. By 1962, he was made a full Professor of Physical Chemistry.

In 1965, Professor Gray became the Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry. He took over after Professor Lord Dainton left. Peter Gray was interested in how things burn and explode. He studied reactions that go back and forth, called oscillatory reactions. He also looked into chaos in chemistry, which is about how small changes can lead to big, unpredictable results.

Professor Gray left the University of Leeds in 1988. He was chosen to be the Master of his old college, Gonville and Caius College, in Cambridge. He led the college until 1996. After that, he was a Life Fellow of the college until he passed away in 2012.

Awards and Special Honors

Professor Gray received many awards and honors during his career. In 1977, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is one of the highest honors a scientist can get in the UK.

In 1997, the University of Leeds gave him an honorary DSc degree. This was to celebrate his amazing work. His work was known for being very wide-ranging and different. He was one of the first to measure how temperature changes in gases right before they catch fire. This helped scientists understand how things explode.

He also studied how different gases move and mix. His lab became a top place for this kind of research in the UK. He also made big discoveries about how certain chemicals react.

His Personal Life

Peter Gray had four children with his first wife, Barbara. Her name was Barbara Gray, and she was a lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Leeds. Their children were Christine, Andrew, David, and Sally. Barbara passed away in 1992. Later, Peter Gray married his second wife, Rachel, who was still with him when he died.

Outside of his science work, Peter Gray loved music. He also enjoyed walking in the hills. He was interested in classical Russian science and math too.