Dr. C. H. Desch, F.R.S

Abstract

PERHAPS the outstanding characteristic of Dr. C. H. Desch, who retired from the post of superintendent of the Metallurgical Department of the National Physical Laboratory at the end of last year, was the astonishing—possibly unique—breadth and depth of his scientific knowledge and interests. Educated at the Finsbury Technical College, the University of Würzburg and University College, London, as a chemist, he entered the Metallurgical Department of the last institution in 1902. From 1909 until 1920 he was at the University and Royal Technical College, Glasgow. In 1920 he was elected to the chair of metallurgy in the University of Sheffield, a post which he held until 1931. Thus from 1902 until 1931 he was almost continuously engaged in metallurgical teaching and research.