Sir Gilbert Morgan, O.B.E., F.R.S.

Abstract

SIR GILBERT MORGAN is retiring from the directorship of the Chemical Laboratory, Teddington, under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and is taking over a directorship in another important field of work. He was appointed director at Teddington in 1925, but had held previously the professorship of applied chemistry at Finsbury Technical College, the professorship of applied chemistry at the Royal College of Science, Ireland, the professorship of chemistry at the University of Birmingham, as well as the post of assistant professor of chemistry in the Royal College of Science, London. At Teddington, he was entrusted with the task of creating something out of nothing, and was successful in establishing an institution which has become a valued national possession. For this he received the honour of knighthood in 1936. Before his administrative duties limited the time which even he could find for research, Sir Gilbert published many papers in the Journal of the Chemical Society and other journals. In fact, his invention of the word "chelate"in connexion with co-ordination led his friends to name this branch of organic chemistry "Morganic Chemistry". To the Chemical Society he gave his services as editor, secretary and president, and he has been president also of the Society of Chemical Industry. Sir Gilbert is one of those men who discreetly avoid giving the year of their birth in "Who's Who", but his age may be judged from the fact that he is now retiring under the usual Civil Service rules. He has the good wishes of all his friends in his new appointment and they are confident that the success which has crowned all his other activities will attend his new effort. Let us hope that, like Chevreul, he will have a medal struck in his honour on his hundredth birthday. Meanwhile, his "chelate"personal character will continue to attract the affection and admiration of all who come into contact with him.