John Rose (chemist)
Encyclopedia
John Donald Rose FRS (2 January 1911 – 14 October 1976) was a British industrial chemist, who worked for Imperial Chemical Industries
from 1935 to 1972. His posts at ICI included director of research and chairman of the paints division. He was also Master of the Worshipful Company of Salters
.
, Rotherham
, Yorkshire
on 2 January 1911 and was educated at Rotherham Grammar School before matriculating
at Jesus College, Oxford
in 1929 to study chemistry. He graduated with a BA
degree in 1932, and spent a further year in study with Robert Robinson to obtain a post-graduate BSc
degree in 1933. A two-year fellowship awarded by the Salters' Company allowed him to continue his research with Robinson in Oxford and to spend a year at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich with Leopold Ružička on the structure of abietic acid
. In 1935, Rose started work as a research chemist for Imperial Chemical Industries
in Blackley
, Manchester
, where his work included evaluating a new polymer called nylon
. During the Second World War, Rose was part of a research group considering the possibilities for new business after the war, although plans to use acetylene
as an intermediary for making organic chemicals were not pursued when it became clear that it was uneconomic to do so.
In 1949, Rose became associate research manager, and then director of research in 1951; the company's work in this period included research into Procion
dyes and Terylene (an artificial fibre). In 1958, he became production director, followed in 1959 by the post of joint managing director (and later chairman) of the paints division. His final appointment within ICI was as research and development director in 1966 (although he spent a period in 1968 to 1969 as chairman of Ilford Photo
, which had been acquired jointly by ICI and the Swiss company Ciba). He retired in 1972. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1971 and vice-president of the Society of Chemical Industry
in 1968. After his retirement from ICI, he was a director of Laporte Industries and chairman of the Fulmer Research Institute. He was a governor of the University of Salford
(and was awarded an honorary DSc
in 1972) and Master of the Salters' Company in 1973. He died on 14 October 1976 at his home in Chalfont St Peter
.
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
from 1935 to 1972. His posts at ICI included director of research and chairman of the paints division. He was also Master of the Worshipful Company of Salters
Worshipful Company of Salters
The Worshipful Company of Salters is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, 9th in order of precedence. The Company originated as the Guild of Corpus Christi, which was granted a Royal Charter of incorporation in 1559...
.
Life and career
Rose was born in GreasbroughGreasbrough
Greasbrough is a suburb of Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, England.Greasbrough has 2,038 inhabitants and of land belonging to Earl FitzWilliam. It is located two miles north of Rotherham and includes the neighbouring hamlets of Bassinthwaite, Ginhouse, Cinder Bridge, Nether Haugh, and part of...
, Rotherham
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
on 2 January 1911 and was educated at Rotherham Grammar School before matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
in 1929 to study chemistry. He graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1932, and spent a further year in study with Robert Robinson to obtain a post-graduate BSc
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...
degree in 1933. A two-year fellowship awarded by the Salters' Company allowed him to continue his research with Robinson in Oxford and to spend a year at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich with Leopold Ružička on the structure of abietic acid
Abietic acid
Abietic acid , an organic compound that occurs widely in trees. It is the primary component of resin acid, is the primary irritant in pine wood and resin, isolated from rosin and is the most abundant of several closely related organic acids that constitute most of rosin, the solid portion of the...
. In 1935, Rose started work as a research chemist for Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
in Blackley
Blackley
Blackley is an area of the city of Manchester, in Greater Manchester, England. It is north of Manchester city centre, by a meander of the River Irk. Further north is Middleton...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, where his work included evaluating a new polymer called nylon
Nylon
Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides, first produced on February 28, 1935, by Wallace Carothers at DuPont's research facility at the DuPont Experimental Station...
. During the Second World War, Rose was part of a research group considering the possibilities for new business after the war, although plans to use acetylene
Acetylene
Acetylene is the chemical compound with the formula C2H2. It is a hydrocarbon and the simplest alkyne. This colorless gas is widely used as a fuel and a chemical building block. It is unstable in pure form and thus is usually handled as a solution.As an alkyne, acetylene is unsaturated because...
as an intermediary for making organic chemicals were not pursued when it became clear that it was uneconomic to do so.
In 1949, Rose became associate research manager, and then director of research in 1951; the company's work in this period included research into Procion
Procion
Procion is a brand of fibre reactive dyes.Procion MX are a class of cold reactive dyes . They are commonly used in tie dye and other textile crafts. They are dichlorotriazine dyes and were originally made by ICI...
dyes and Terylene (an artificial fibre). In 1958, he became production director, followed in 1959 by the post of joint managing director (and later chairman) of the paints division. His final appointment within ICI was as research and development director in 1966 (although he spent a period in 1968 to 1969 as chairman of Ilford Photo
Ilford Photo
Ilford Photo is a manufacturer of photographic materials known worldwide for its black-and-white film and papers and chemicals, as well as its range of Ilfochrome and Ilfocolor colour printing materials. Ilfochrome was formerly called Cibachrome, developed in partnership with the Swiss company...
, which had been acquired jointly by ICI and the Swiss company Ciba). He retired in 1972. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1971 and vice-president of the Society of Chemical Industry
Society of Chemical Industry
The Society of Chemical Industry is a learned society set up in 1881 "to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit". Its purpose is "Promoting the commercial application of science for the benefit of society". Its first president was Henry Enfield Roscoe and...
in 1968. After his retirement from ICI, he was a director of Laporte Industries and chairman of the Fulmer Research Institute. He was a governor of the University of Salford
University of Salford
The University of Salford is a campus university based in Salford, Greater Manchester, England with approximately 20,000 registered students. The main campus is about west of Manchester city centre, on the A6, opposite the former home of the physicist, James Prescott Joule and the Working Class...
(and was awarded an honorary DSc
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
in 1972) and Master of the Salters' Company in 1973. He died on 14 October 1976 at his home in Chalfont St Peter
Chalfont St Peter
Chalfont St Peter is a village and civil parish in Chiltern district in south-east Buckinghamshire, England. It is in a group of villages called The Chalfonts which also includes Chalfont St Giles and Little Chalfont. The villages lie between High Wycombe and Rickmansworth. Chalfont St Peter is...
.