William Ringrose Gelston Atkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Ringrose Gelston Atkins
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Atkins in 1942.
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| Born | 4 September 1884 Cork, Ireland
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| Died | 4 April 1959 (aged 74) |
William Ringrose Gelston Atkins (born September 4, 1884 – died April 4, 1959) was an important Irish chemist. He was known for his research in different areas of science.
Contents
Who Was William Atkins?
William Ringrose Gelston Atkins was born in Cork, Ireland. His father, Thomas Gelston Atkins, was a doctor. His mother's father was a church leader in London, Ontario.
Early Life and Education
William went to Newtown School in Waterford. In 1902, he started studying science at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). He focused on experimental science and natural science. He finished his studies and graduated in 1906.
Family Life
In 1922, William Atkins married Ingaborg Jackson. They had one son together, named George Mignon Gelston. William Atkins passed away on April 4, 1959.
What Did William Atkins Do?
Atkins had a long and interesting career as a scientist. He worked in different fields, from chemistry to botany. He even helped with important research during both World Wars.
Starting His Science Career
Atkins began his career at Trinity College Dublin (TCD). He worked in both the chemistry and botany departments. He wrote 10 papers with Henry Horatio Dixon. These papers were about osmotic pressure, which is how liquids move through a barrier.
Helping During World War I
During World War I, Atkins helped with research on airplane materials. He worked at the National Physical Laboratory. He studied the best types of wood for airplane propellers. He also found that adding a special material called colloidal graphite to engine oil made planes fly longer. For this important work, he received an award called the OBE.
Research in India and England
After the war, Atkins returned to TCD for a short time. Then, he moved to India to work as a botanist. In 1921, he came back to England. He became the head of a department at the Marine Biological Association's Laboratory in Plymouth.
Honors and Later Work
In 1925, Atkins was chosen to be a member of the Royal Society. This is a very respected group of scientists. In 1928, he won the Boyle Medal from the Royal Dublin Society. During World War II, he helped the Air Ministry. He worked on how well pilots could see in the atmosphere. For his contributions, he received another award called the CBE.
