W. E. S. Turner facts for kids

William Ernest Stephen Turner (born September 22, 1881 – died October 27, 1963) was a British chemist. He was a leader in using science to make and understand glass. He helped create the field of scientific glass technology.

Who Was William Turner?

Early Life and Education

William Turner was born in Wednesbury, England, on September 22, 1881. He went to King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham. Later, he studied chemistry at the University of Birmingham. He earned his first science degree in 1902 and a master's degree in 1904.

Family Life

William Turner married Mary Isobell Marshall. They had four children together. Sadly, Mary passed away in 1939. In 1943, he married Helen Nairn Munro. Helen was an artist known for her glass engraving. She also taught glass decoration.

A Special Wedding Dress

For his second wedding, Helen wore a unique dress. It was made from glass fiber cloth. This material was very new and unusual at the time. This special dress is now part of the famous BBC collection, "A History of the World in 100 Objects." You can see it at the Turner Museum of Glass.

Starting a Museum

In 1943, William Turner also started a collection of glass. This collection grew into the Turner Museum of Glass. It shows many different types of glass from history and modern times.

His Passing

William Turner passed away on October 27, 1963.

Turner's Important Work

Early Research and Writings

From 1904 to 1914, William Turner wrote many scientific papers. These papers were mostly about how molecules behave in liquids. He also wrote articles for a local newspaper in 1909. In these articles, he encouraged scientists and universities to work together with industries.

Helping British Industry

When First World War started, Britain faced a problem. They could not get important metal supplies from Germany and Austria. Turner suggested that universities should help British industries. This led him to look into the glass industry.

Creating a Glass Department

In 1915, Turner wrote a report about the glass industry in Yorkshire. He found that it wasn't very scientific. He convinced the University of Sheffield to create a special department. This was the Department of Glass Manufacture. He became its head in 1916 and stayed there until he retired in 1945.

Understanding Glass

Turner's main goal was to deeply understand glass. He wanted to know how its chemical makeup affected how it worked. His research made him famous around the world.

Founding Organizations

In 1916, he started the Society of Glass Technology. He was its first secretary and edited its journal until 1951. He also helped create the International Commission on Glass. These groups helped share knowledge about glass.

Teaching and Training

Turner first taught physical chemistry. In 1905, he began teaching special courses for people working with metals. Later, his glass department started outreach programs. They offered short courses to glass workers in different towns. These classes helped people learn more about glass making.

During the Second World War, Turner and his team gave lectures to industries. They helped companies that made glass parts for electronics, like vacuum tubes.

Awards and Recognition

William Turner received many honors for his work.

• In 1919, he was given the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for his work in applying science to the glass industry.
• In 1938, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the UK.
• He also received the Otto Schott Medal. He was the only person outside Germany to get this award.