Fullerian Professor of Chemistry

Fullerian Professor of Chemistry is a prestigious professorial chair in chemistry established at the Royal Institution in London. Founded in 1833 through a bequest from John "Mad Jack" Fuller, it is one of several Fullerian Professorships dedicated to the advancement of scientific knowledge. The position has been held by many of the most influential chemists in history, who have delivered seminal Bakerian Lectures and pioneered research that shaped modern science. Its incumbents have played a central role in the Royal Institution's mission of public engagement and experimental demonstration.

History

The chair was founded in 1833 following a substantial bequest to the Royal Institution by the English politician and patron of science John Fuller. His endowment specifically aimed to support a series of professorial lectures in chemistry, physiology, and other sciences, leading to the creation of the Fullerian Professorships. The first appointment, William Thomas Brande, was a natural successor, having already served as the Institution's Professor of Chemistry. Throughout the 19th century, the position became intrinsically linked with the Royal Institution's famous Friday Evening Discourses and its Christmas Lectures, using its laboratory facilities to conduct groundbreaking research. The professorship has endured through major scientific eras, from the development of electrochemistry and organic chemistry to the advent of X-ray crystallography and molecular biology.

List of Fullerian Professors of Chemistry

The following individuals have held the Fullerian Professorship of Chemistry since its inception: * William Thomas Brande (1833–1852) * John Hall Gladstone (1853–1874) * Edward Frankland (1874–1877) * James Dewar (1877–1923) * William Henry Bragg (1923–1942) * Eric Rideal (1946–1950) * Ronald George Wreyford Norrish (1950–1963) * George Porter (1963–1966) * John Meurig Thomas (1978–1986) * Richard Catlow (2006–2010) * Andrea Sella (2014–present) Notably, several holders, including James Dewar and William Henry Bragg, also served as Director of the Royal Institution Davy Faraday Research Laboratory. The exceptionally long tenure of James Dewar, inventor of the Dewar flask, spanned 46 years, while the mid-20th century saw a succession of Nobel laureates like Ronald George Wreyford Norrish and George Porter.

Appointment and tenure

Appointment to the Fullerian Professorship of Chemistry is made by the Royal Institution, traditionally based on the candidate's eminent standing in the field of chemistry and their ability to communicate science to a broad audience. The role is not a permanent faculty position but is typically held for a defined period, often alongside other institutional duties. Historically, many professors, such as Edward Frankland and William Henry Bragg, held the chair concurrently with professorships at other major institutions like the Royal College of Chemistry or the University of Leeds. The position carries the responsibility of delivering public lectures, including the historic Friday Evening Discourses, and often involves overseeing research within the Royal Institution's laboratories.

Notable research and contributions

Holders of the chair have been responsible for transformative discoveries across chemistry and physics. William Thomas Brande conducted early work on the elemental nature of chlorine and lithium, while Edward Frankland, a founder of organometallic chemistry, pioneered the theory of chemical valence. James Dewar's research into cryogenics led to the liquefaction of hydrogen and the invention of the vacuum flask. William Henry Bragg, with his son Lawrence Bragg, founded the science of X-ray crystallography, for which they shared the Nobel Prize in Physics. In the 20th century, Ronald George Wreyford Norrish and George Porter developed flash photolysis, earning them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and more recent professors like John Meurig Thomas advanced the field of heterogeneous catalysis and solid-state chemistry.

Relationship with the Royal Institution

The Fullerian Professor of Chemistry is a cornerstone of the Royal Institution's identity and its historic mission of scientific education and research. The professor is central to the Institution's flagship lecture programs, including the Christmas Lectures for young people, famously delivered by figures like Michael Faraday (who held the related Fullerian Professorship of Chemistry briefly) and later holders. The position is deeply intertwined with the Royal Institution Davy Faraday Research Laboratory, a facility used extensively by professors from Humphry Davy to John Meurig Thomas for experimental work. This symbiotic relationship ensures the chair remains a vital link between cutting-edge chemical research and its public dissemination, upholding the legacy of the Royal Institution's founders.

Category:Chemistry awards and honors Category:Royal Institution