Edward Robert Festing
Encyclopedia
Major-General Edward Robert Festing CB FRS (1839 – 16 May 1912), English army officer, chemist
, and first Director of the Science Museum
in London
. He contributed to infrared spectroscopy
research with Sir William Abney
in the 1880s.
Edward R. Festing was the son of Richard Grindall Festing and Eliza Mammatt. He was educated at Carshalton and King's College School
. He was transferred to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich
and then "gazetted
" as a lieutenant
in the Royal Engineers
at the age of only fifteen.
With Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney
(also a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich), Festing studied the infrared
absorption spectra of a number of organic and inorganic chemical compounds. In 1881, they established that the absorption bands were associated with groups of atoms in the molecules rather than the entire molecule. They postulated the correlation of different bands to specific groupings, for instance the nitro group in nitrobenzene
. In 1885, Abney and Festing developed a colour photometer
and undertook a range of colour measurements.
E. R. Festing joined the South Kensington Museum in 1864. He became one of two assistant directors at the South Kensington Museum. On the retirement of the Director of the museum, Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen
, in 1893, the museum was split into an Art Museum (which subsequently became known as the Victoria and Albert Museum
) and a Science Museum. Festing became the first Director of the newly formed Science Museum.
Festing was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
(FRS) on 4 June 1886. He was also a Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB).
(1837–1902), who became the Bishop of St Albans
. He had a son, Richard Arthur Grindall Festing, who worked for the Civil Service in Ceylon.
He died from heart failure.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, and first Director of the Science Museum
Science Museum (London)
The Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He contributed to infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy is the spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, that is light with a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. It covers a range of techniques, mostly based on absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic...
research with Sir William Abney
William de Wiveleslie Abney
William de Wiveleslie Abney FRS was an English astronomer, chemist, and photographer.-Biography:Abney was born in Derby, England, the son of Edward Abney vicar of St Alkmund's Derby, and owner of the Firs Estate...
in the 1880s.
Edward R. Festing was the son of Richard Grindall Festing and Eliza Mammatt. He was educated at Carshalton and King's College School
King's College School
King's College School, commonly referred to as KCS, King's, or KCS Wimbledon, is an independent school for day pupils in Wimbledon in south-west London. The school was founded as the junior department of King's College London and occupied part of its premises in Strand, before relocating to...
. He was transferred to the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
and then "gazetted
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
" as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
at the age of only fifteen.
With Sir William de Wiveleslie Abney
William de Wiveleslie Abney
William de Wiveleslie Abney FRS was an English astronomer, chemist, and photographer.-Biography:Abney was born in Derby, England, the son of Edward Abney vicar of St Alkmund's Derby, and owner of the Firs Estate...
(also a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich), Festing studied the infrared
Infrared
Infrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
absorption spectra of a number of organic and inorganic chemical compounds. In 1881, they established that the absorption bands were associated with groups of atoms in the molecules rather than the entire molecule. They postulated the correlation of different bands to specific groupings, for instance the nitro group in nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5NO2. It is a water-insoluble pale yellow oil with an almond-like odor. It freezes to give greenish-yellow crystals. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to aniline. Although occasionally used as a flavoring or perfume...
. In 1885, Abney and Festing developed a colour photometer
Photometer
In its widest sense, a photometer is an instrument for measuring light intensity or optical properties of solutions or surfaces. Photometers are used to measure:*Illuminance*Irradiance*Light absorption*Scattering of light*Reflection of light*Fluorescence...
and undertook a range of colour measurements.
E. R. Festing joined the South Kensington Museum in 1864. He became one of two assistant directors at the South Kensington Museum. On the retirement of the Director of the museum, Sir Philip Cunliffe-Owen
Philip Cunliffe-Owen
Sir Francis Philip Cunliffe-Owen KCB, KCMG, CIE was an exhibition organizer and the Director of the South Kensington Museum in London.- Biography :...
, in 1893, the museum was split into an Art Museum (which subsequently became known as the Victoria and Albert Museum
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
) and a Science Museum. Festing became the first Director of the newly formed Science Museum.
Festing was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(FRS) on 4 June 1886. He was also a Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB).
Family
Edward Festing was the younger brother of John Wogan FestingJohn Wogan Festing
John Wogan Festing was an English clergyman who became the Bishop of St Albans.John W...
(1837–1902), who became the Bishop of St Albans
Bishop of St Albans
The Bishop of St Albans is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of St Albans in the Province of Canterbury. The bishop is supported in his work by two suffragan bishops, the Bishop of Hertford and the Bishop of Bedford, and three archdeacons....
. He had a son, Richard Arthur Grindall Festing, who worked for the Civil Service in Ceylon.
He died from heart failure.
Selected publications
- W. de W. Abney and E. R. Festing, Intensity of Radiation through Turbid Media, Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Volume 40, pages 378–380, 1886. Published by The Royal Society.
- W. de W. Abney and E. R. Festing, Colour Photometry. Part III.Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Volume 50, pages 369–372, 1 January 1892. Published by The Royal Society.