Leonard Albert Wiseman
Encyclopedia
Leonard Albert Wiseman OBE BSc ARI.C CText FTI (4 November 1915-24 Jan 2009), organic chemist, scientific intelligence analyst and scientific administrator. Following his early work as a research chemist and in intelligence, he became, successively Deputy Director of the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Director of the British Rayon Research Association
, succeeding John Wilson
, Deputy Director of the Cotton, Silk and Man-made Fibres Research Association
when the BRRA merged with the British Cotton Industry Research Association (the Shirley Institute), becoming Director in 1969 until retiring in 1980 He also served for some years as Chairman of Council of the Textile Institute.
to study chemistry at University College, London. He graduated with first class honours in 1936. He married Winifred and had a son. (He lived to see four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.)
. He also started to study other problems in organic chemistry. The outbreak of war prevented the presentation of his Ph.D. thesis, and delayed publication of some of his work, which did finally appear in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, many years later. He became an Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry and a Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge. Near the end of the war, he was appointed to the British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee and was sent Germany where he worked at the Luftwaffe Research centre in Brunswick. he became fluent in German and met his second wife, Hansi.
He then came back to the UK, to work as Deputy Director of the Government Explosives Research Centre at Waltham Abbey. When the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) was created at Aldermaston, many of the Waltham Abbey staff played important roles in setting it up and developing its activities. Wiseman was among these and he was appointed Deputy Director in 1953, transferring to the Ministry of Supply in 1956 to oversee related production work. He directed and reported major studies of the physical chemistry of propellants and explosions - a logical continuation of his work at Waltham Abbey.
Wiseman wanted to turn his skills as a scientific administrator to more peaceful uses than atomic armaments. Accordingly, he accepted the role of Director of the British Rayon Research Association
in 1958, when the incumbent, John Wilson
retired. After BRRA merged with the British Cotton Industry Research Association (BCIRA) to become the British Cotton, Silk and Man-made Fibres Research, better known under the earlier name Shirley Institute, he became its Deputy Director, and Director from 1969 until his retirement in 1980.
His activity in the textile industry at large, helped it manage a period of contraction He served as Chairman of Council of the Textile Institute
from 1979–82.
As a linguist as well as a scientist, he also represented UK textiles abroad. He was awarded an OBE in 1974 for services to the textile industry.
He was also active in a number of societies including the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
and Manchester Statistical Society
.
British Rayon Research Association
The British Rayon Research Association was a research institute formed in 1946 by the British Rayon Federation and others. It was funded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and by voluntary funds from industry to investigate the chemical and physical properties of rayon and...
, succeeding John Wilson
John Wilson (industrial chemist)
John Wilson CBE, MC & Bar, FRIC was Director of the British Rayon Research Association from 1948 to 1958. He was married to Edith Wilson and had six children.-Early life:...
, Deputy Director of the Cotton, Silk and Man-made Fibres Research Association
Shirley Institute
The Shirley Institute was established in 1920 as the British Cotton Industry Research Association at The Towers in Didsbury, Manchester as a research centre dedicated to cotton production technologies...
when the BRRA merged with the British Cotton Industry Research Association (the Shirley Institute), becoming Director in 1969 until retiring in 1980 He also served for some years as Chairman of Council of the Textile Institute.
Early life
Wiseman was born in North London, and enjoyed cross-country running and other sports as a child. He won a scholarship from the Stationers’ Company SchoolWorshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Stationers' Company was founded in 1403; it received a Royal Charter in 1557...
to study chemistry at University College, London. He graduated with first class honours in 1936. He married Winifred and had a son. (He lived to see four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.)
Cambridge, Brunswick and Aldermaston
Following graduation, he received a scholarship to conduct research on the chemistry of sucroseSucrose
Sucrose is the organic compound commonly known as table sugar and sometimes called saccharose. A white, odorless, crystalline powder with a sweet taste, it is best known for its role in human nutrition. The molecule is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose with the molecular formula...
. He also started to study other problems in organic chemistry. The outbreak of war prevented the presentation of his Ph.D. thesis, and delayed publication of some of his work, which did finally appear in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, many years later. He became an Assistant Lecturer in Chemistry and a Fellow of Kings College, Cambridge. Near the end of the war, he was appointed to the British Intelligence Objectives Sub-Committee and was sent Germany where he worked at the Luftwaffe Research centre in Brunswick. he became fluent in German and met his second wife, Hansi.
He then came back to the UK, to work as Deputy Director of the Government Explosives Research Centre at Waltham Abbey. When the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE) was created at Aldermaston, many of the Waltham Abbey staff played important roles in setting it up and developing its activities. Wiseman was among these and he was appointed Deputy Director in 1953, transferring to the Ministry of Supply in 1956 to oversee related production work. He directed and reported major studies of the physical chemistry of propellants and explosions - a logical continuation of his work at Waltham Abbey.
Wiseman wanted to turn his skills as a scientific administrator to more peaceful uses than atomic armaments. Accordingly, he accepted the role of Director of the British Rayon Research Association
British Rayon Research Association
The British Rayon Research Association was a research institute formed in 1946 by the British Rayon Federation and others. It was funded by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and by voluntary funds from industry to investigate the chemical and physical properties of rayon and...
in 1958, when the incumbent, John Wilson
John Wilson (industrial chemist)
John Wilson CBE, MC & Bar, FRIC was Director of the British Rayon Research Association from 1948 to 1958. He was married to Edith Wilson and had six children.-Early life:...
retired. After BRRA merged with the British Cotton Industry Research Association (BCIRA) to become the British Cotton, Silk and Man-made Fibres Research, better known under the earlier name Shirley Institute, he became its Deputy Director, and Director from 1969 until his retirement in 1980.
His activity in the textile industry at large, helped it manage a period of contraction He served as Chairman of Council of the Textile Institute
Textile Institute
The Textile Institute is a unique organisation in textiles, clothing and footwear. It was incorporated in England by a Royal Charter granted in 1925 and is a registered charity...
from 1979–82.
As a linguist as well as a scientist, he also represented UK textiles abroad. He was awarded an OBE in 1974 for services to the textile industry.
He was also active in a number of societies including the Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society
The Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, popularly known as the Lit & Phil, is a learned society in Manchester, England.Established in 1781 as the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, by Thomas Percival, Thomas Barnes and Thomas Henry, other prominent members have included...
and Manchester Statistical Society
Manchester Statistical Society
Manchester Statistical Society is a learned society founded 1833 in Manchester, England. It claims to be "the first organisation in Britain to study social problems systematically and to collect statistics for social purposes" and in 1834 to be "the first organisation to carry out a house-to-house...
.