Hugh Stott Taylor
Encyclopedia
Hugh Stott Taylor was an English chemist
primarily interested in catalysis
. In 1928, in a landmark contribution to catalytic theory, Taylor suggested that a catalyzed chemical reaction
is not catalyzed over the entire solid surface of the catalyst but only at certain ‘active site
s’ or centers.
He also developed important methods for procuring heavy water during World War II
and pioneered the use of stable isotope
s in studying chemical reactions.
, Lancashire
, England
in 1890, the son of glass technologist James and Ellen (née Stott) Taylor. He was educated at Cowley Grammar School
in St Helens and then attended the University of Liverpool
, where he received his B.Sc. in 1909 and his M.Sc. in 1910. Taylor then carried out three years of graduate work in Liverpool, after which he spent one year at the Nobel Institute in Stockholm
in the laboratory of Svante Arrhenius
and another at the Technische Hochschule in Hanover under Max Bodenstein
. These studies earned him a Ph.D degree from the University of Liverpool in 1914.
Taylor showed that hydrogen atoms are key intermediates of reactions involving H2 on metal surfaces and also discovered the conversion of heptane to toluene over
chromium oxide.
of the α-helix, an element of protein secondary structure
. An earlier model by
Astbury
had been shown to be physically implausible by
Hans Neurath
. Using physical models and chemical reasoning, Taylor sought
to find a better model, which differs only slightly from the modern α-helix
proposed by Linus Pauling
and Richard Corey. Taylor reported their
models at his Franklin Medal
lecture (1941) and in press (1942).
in 1922 and became chair of the Chemistry Department at Princeton in 1926, where he served until 1951. In 1927, Taylor became the David B. Jones Professor of Chemistry at Princeton.
Taylor also served as the Dean of the Graduate School at Princeton from 1948-1958.
As Chair of Chemistry from 1926-1951, Taylor developed the Chemistry Dept. at Princeton energetically and oversaw the construction of the Frick Chemical Laboratory.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society im May 1932.
Taylor was knighted by both Pope Pius XII and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Hugh Stott Taylor Chair of Chemistry at Princeton was funded by an anonymous gift of $500K in honor of Taylor's contributions to Princeton.
Taylor was a devoted Catholic
who helped to establish the Catholic chaplaincy at Princeton in 1928 and spoke publicly about the reconciliation of science
and faith
.
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...
primarily interested in catalysis
Catalysis
Catalysis is the change in rate of a chemical reaction due to the participation of a substance called a catalyst. Unlike other reagents that participate in the chemical reaction, a catalyst is not consumed by the reaction itself. A catalyst may participate in multiple chemical transformations....
. In 1928, in a landmark contribution to catalytic theory, Taylor suggested that a catalyzed chemical reaction
Chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous, requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of some type of energy, such as heat, light or electricity...
is not catalyzed over the entire solid surface of the catalyst but only at certain ‘active site
Active site
In biology the active site is part of an enzyme where substrates bind and undergo a chemical reaction. The majority of enzymes are proteins but RNA enzymes called ribozymes also exist. The active site of an enzyme is usually found in a cleft or pocket that is lined by amino acid residues that...
s’ or centers.
He also developed important methods for procuring heavy water during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and pioneered the use of stable isotope
Isotope
Isotopes are variants of atoms of a particular chemical element, which have differing numbers of neutrons. Atoms of a particular element by definition must contain the same number of protons but may have a distinct number of neutrons which differs from atom to atom, without changing the designation...
s in studying chemical reactions.
Early life
Taylor was born in St HelensSt Helens, Merseyside
St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000, part of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the 2001 Census...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1890, the son of glass technologist James and Ellen (née Stott) Taylor. He was educated at Cowley Grammar School
Cowley Language College
Cowley International College, formely Cowley Language College, is an 11-18 college situated on Cowley Hill, in Windle, St Helens, Merseyside.-Admissions:...
in St Helens and then attended the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, where he received his B.Sc. in 1909 and his M.Sc. in 1910. Taylor then carried out three years of graduate work in Liverpool, after which he spent one year at the Nobel Institute in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
in the laboratory of Svante Arrhenius
Svante Arrhenius
Svante August Arrhenius was a Swedish scientist, originally a physicist, but often referred to as a chemist, and one of the founders of the science of physical chemistry...
and another at the Technische Hochschule in Hanover under Max Bodenstein
Max Bodenstein
Max Ernst August Bodenstein was a German physical chemist known for his work in chemical kinetics...
. These studies earned him a Ph.D degree from the University of Liverpool in 1914.
Basic research
Taylor showed that chemisorption may be an activated process, and occur slowly. Moreover, he conceived the idea that chemically active sites might be sparse on the surface of a catalyst and, hence, could be inhibited with relatively few molecules.Taylor showed that hydrogen atoms are key intermediates of reactions involving H2 on metal surfaces and also discovered the conversion of heptane to toluene over
chromium oxide.
Protein structure
Taylor and a graduate student developed the first semi-realistic modelof the α-helix, an element of protein secondary structure
Secondary structure
In biochemistry and structural biology, secondary structure is the general three-dimensional form of local segments of biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids...
. An earlier model by
Astbury
William Astbury
William Thomas Astbury FRS was an English physicist and molecular biologist who made pioneering X-ray diffraction studies of biological molecules. His work on keratin provided the foundation for Linus Pauling's discovery of the alpha helix...
had been shown to be physically implausible by
Hans Neurath
Hans Neurath
Hans Neurath was a biochemist, a leader in protein chemistry and the founding chairman of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Washington in Seattle.-Early life:...
. Using physical models and chemical reasoning, Taylor sought
to find a better model, which differs only slightly from the modern α-helix
proposed by Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
and Richard Corey. Taylor reported their
models at his Franklin Medal
Franklin Medal
The Franklin Medal was a science and engineering award presented by the Franklin Institute, of Philadelphia, PA, USA.-Laureates:*1915 - Thomas Alva Edison *1915 - Heike Kamerlingh Onnes *1916 - John J...
lecture (1941) and in press (1942).
Work at Princeton
Taylor began at Princeton in 1914 as Instructor in Physical Chemistry, and by 1915, was made an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Professor of Physical Chemistryin 1922 and became chair of the Chemistry Department at Princeton in 1926, where he served until 1951. In 1927, Taylor became the David B. Jones Professor of Chemistry at Princeton.
Taylor also served as the Dean of the Graduate School at Princeton from 1948-1958.
As Chair of Chemistry from 1926-1951, Taylor developed the Chemistry Dept. at Princeton energetically and oversaw the construction of the Frick Chemical Laboratory.
He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society im May 1932.
Personal life
He married Elkizabeth Agnes Sawyer on June 12, 1919; They had two daughters.Taylor was knighted by both Pope Pius XII and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Hugh Stott Taylor Chair of Chemistry at Princeton was funded by an anonymous gift of $500K in honor of Taylor's contributions to Princeton.
Taylor was a devoted Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
who helped to establish the Catholic chaplaincy at Princeton in 1928 and spoke publicly about the reconciliation of science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
.