Sir William Jackson PopeKBEFRS[1] (31 March 1870 – 17 October 1939) was an English chemist.
Biography
William Jackson Pope was born on 31 March 1870 in Hoxton to William (a saddler) and Alice (née Hall). His parents were staunch and active Wesleyans who had eight children, of whom William was the eldest. In 1878 he entered the Central Foundation School, in London, where his ability to learn rapidly gave him leisure at the age of twelve to carry out simple chemical experiments in his bedroom. While at school he also developed great skill as a photographer—many of his early photographs were in perfect condition fifty years later. From there he moved to the Finsbury Technical College, where he learned much from H E Armstrong; the two later became close friends.
Pope studied crystallography under H. A. Miers, and most of his earlier research focussed on measuring crystallographic data with a goniometer. These studies had an important influence on the development of his chemical work, for they enhanced the natural faculty of visualising spatial relationships. This drew him into the field of stereochemistry where his most notable achievements were to resolve a series of asymmetric, optically active compounds of nitrogen, sulfur, tin and selenium. This led to his appointment in 1901 to a chair of chemistry at the Manchester Municipal School of Technology. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in June 1902,[2] and then to the 1702 chair of chemistry at Cambridge University in 1908.[3]
Sir William died, unmarried, in Cambridge on 17 October 1939, after a long illness. A memorial service was held for him at St John’s College Chapel.[1]
↑"Court Circular". The Times. No.36787. London. 6 June 1902. p.10.
12Thackray, Arnold; Bowden, Mary Ellen (2005). "Chapter 8: The rise and fall of the "Papal State"". In Archer, Mary D.; Haley, Christopher D. (eds.). The 1702 chair of chemistry at Cambridge: transformation and change. Cambridge University Press. pp.189–209. ISBN0521828732.
