Sir Robert Pickard, F.R.S

Abstract

ROBERT HOWSON PiCKARD was the eldest son of the late J. H. Piokard, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, and was educated at King Edward's Grammar School, Camp Hill, Mason College, where he studied chemistry under Tilden and P. F. Frankland ; and the University of Munich, where he received his Ph.D. degree in 1898. A year later he was appointed head op the Chemical Department of Blackburn Technical College, and he became principal eight years later, at the early age of thirty-one. He held this dual post until he moved to London in 1919 to become principal of Battersea Polytechnic. Here he undertook additional duties as director of the newly formed British Leather Manufacturers' Research Association, an organisation with which he was later associated in an advisory capacity up to the time of his death. During this period he served on the Senate of the University of London and on the councils of the British Launderers' Research Association, the Boot, Shoe and Allied Trades Research Association, and on many important committees including the Burn-ham Committee, of which he was for some time secretary. He was director of the British Cotton Industry Research Association during 1927-43, vice-chancellor of the University of London (1937-39), chairman of the Chemical Council (1936-38), and president of the Institute of Chemistry (1936-39). He was a past president of the Society of Chemical Industry, twice vice-president of the Chemical Society, a member of the Research Committee of the Federation of British Industries, and chairman of the Committee of Directors of Research Associations. He was knighted in 1937.