James Kendall
Encyclopedia
James Pickering Kendall FRS FRSE (30 July 1889 Chobham
, Surrey
- 14 June 1978 Edinburgh
) was an English chemist.
He was born in Chobham, Surrey to soldier William Henry Kendall and his second wife Rebecca. He attended the local village school and then from 1900 Farnham Grammar School
. In 1907 he went up to Edinburgh University graduating both Bachelor of Science
and Master of Arts
in 1910. In 1912, with the help of a scholarship he left for the Nobel Institute for Physical Chemistry in Stockholm to work with Arrhenius
on electrolytes.
In 1913 he accepted the position as Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University
, New York. He also served in 1917 as a Lieutenant Commander
in the United States Naval Reserve, acting as Liaison Officer with Allied Services on Chemical Warfare
.
His candidacy for the Royal Society
of London in 1924 read:
"Distinguished as an investigator in physical and general chemistry. Has published since 1912, partly with collaborators, over sixty papers in Proc Roy Soc, Journ Chem Soc, Phil Mag, Journ Amer Chem Soc, Journ Phys Chem, etc, dealing with the following subjects: - 'Mechanism of the Ionisation Process'; The Problem of Strong Electrolytes'; 'Correlation of Compound Formation, Ionisation and Solubility in Solution, and in Fused Salt Mixtures'; 'Prediction of Solubility in Polar Solutions'; 'Stability of Hydrates and other Additive Compounds'; 'Viscosity of Binary Mixtures'; 'A Method for the Separation of Rare Earths and of Isotopes." He was elected in 1927.
In 1926 he moved to be Professor of Chemistry at New York University
pending a final move back to Scotland to be Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh University.
After many years of service to the Royal Society of Edinburgh
he was appointed President from 1949-1954.
He retired in 1959 and died in Edinburgh in 1978, He had married Alice Tyldesley of British Columbia in 1915 who died in 1955. He was survived by his second wife Jane Steven and children from his first marriage.
Chobham, Surrey
Chobham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Surrey Heath in Surrey, England, about 15 minutes drive from the London railway line stations at Woking to the south and Sunningdale to the north...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
- 14 June 1978 Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
) was an English chemist.
He was born in Chobham, Surrey to soldier William Henry Kendall and his second wife Rebecca. He attended the local village school and then from 1900 Farnham Grammar School
Farnham Grammar School
Farnham Grammar School is now called Farnham College which is located in Farnham, Surrey.-History:The grammar school was created some time before 1585...
. In 1907 he went up to Edinburgh University graduating both Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and Master of Arts
Master of Arts
A Master of Arts is a high academic degree offered at many universities in Europe and the United States.A Master of Arts, Magister Artium, or Magister in Artibus may also refer to:...
in 1910. In 1912, with the help of a scholarship he left for the Nobel Institute for Physical Chemistry in Stockholm to work with 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...
on electrolytes.
In 1913 he accepted the position as Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, New York. He also served in 1917 as a Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the United States Naval Reserve, acting as Liaison Officer with Allied Services on Chemical Warfare
Chemical warfare
Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of chemical substances as weapons. This type of warfare is distinct from Nuclear warfare and Biological warfare, which together make up NBC, the military acronym for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical...
.
His candidacy for 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"...
of London in 1924 read:
"Distinguished as an investigator in physical and general chemistry. Has published since 1912, partly with collaborators, over sixty papers in Proc Roy Soc, Journ Chem Soc, Phil Mag, Journ Amer Chem Soc, Journ Phys Chem, etc, dealing with the following subjects: - 'Mechanism of the Ionisation Process'; The Problem of Strong Electrolytes'; 'Correlation of Compound Formation, Ionisation and Solubility in Solution, and in Fused Salt Mixtures'; 'Prediction of Solubility in Polar Solutions'; 'Stability of Hydrates and other Additive Compounds'; 'Viscosity of Binary Mixtures'; 'A Method for the Separation of Rare Earths and of Isotopes." He was elected in 1927.
In 1926 he moved to be Professor of Chemistry at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
pending a final move back to Scotland to be Professor of Chemistry at Edinburgh University.
After many years of service to the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
he was appointed President from 1949-1954.
He retired in 1959 and died in Edinburgh in 1978, He had married Alice Tyldesley of British Columbia in 1915 who died in 1955. He was survived by his second wife Jane Steven and children from his first marriage.
Books Published
He wrote and co-authored several books including:- Smith's Introductory College Chemistry (revised 1938) Appleton-Century, New York
- Breathe Freely! The Truth About Poison Gas. First published April 1938, reprinted April 1938 and again in 1939 by Camelot Press Ltd London and Southhampton