Sir Arthur Russell, 6th Baronet facts for kids
Sir Arthur Edward Ian Montagu Russell, MBE, FRS (born November 30, 1878 – died February 24, 1964), was a famous British mineralogist. A mineralogist is a scientist who studies minerals. He was known for collecting many amazing minerals. He also collected other people's collections!
He was born at Swallowfield Park, near Reading, in Berkshire. His father was Sir George Russell. Arthur went to Eton College, a well-known school. Later, he studied chemistry at King's College London.
During World War I, he served in France. He was injured and sent home in 1915.
In 1920, he received an award called the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award recognizes people who have done great things. In 1944, he became the 6th Baronet after his older brother passed away. A Baronet is a special British title, like a knight, that can be passed down in a family.
His Amazing Mineral Collection
Sir Arthur spent his life gathering a huge collection of minerals. He collected minerals from all over the world. What made his collection extra special was that he also bought collections from other famous mineral collectors.
Some of these important collections came from people like Philip Rashleigh, Lady Elizabeth Coxe Hippisley, John Hawkins, and John Ruskin. He gathered minerals that others had spent years finding.
His collection, kept at Swallowfield Park, became famous worldwide. Mineralogists and collectors from Europe and America visited to see it. This collection has about 12,000 of the best British minerals. Today, you can find it in the Mineralogical Collection at the Natural History Museum in London.
Family Life
In 1904, Sir Arthur married Aileen Kerr Pechell. They had two children together. One of their children was George Michael Russell, who later became the next Baronet.
Awards and Recognition
Sir Arthur Russell received many honours for his work with minerals:
- He was the President of the British Mineralogical Society from 1939 to 1942.
- He received the Bolitho Medal from the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall in 1948.
- He was given the Henwood Medal from the Royal Institution of Cornwall in 1953.
- The University of Oxford gave him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1956.
He even discovered and named a new mineral species called rashleighite. Other minerals were named in his honour, like russellite and arthurite.
Today, a group for people who love minerals, called the Russell Society, is named after him. It is for both amateur and professional mineralogists.
