Arthur John Allmand | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1885-01-07)7 January 1885 Wrexham, Wales |
| Died | 4 August 1951(1951-08-04) (aged 66) London, England |
| Alma mater | University of Liverpool |
| Spouse | Mile Marguerite Marie S. Malicorne |
| Children | 3, includingChristopher Allmand andMichael Allmand VC |
| Awards | 1851 Research Fellowship Fellow of the Royal Society Fellow of the Royal Institute of Chemistry |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Photochemistry Electrochemistry |
| Institutions | University of Liverpool King's College London |
Arthur John Allmand MC | |
|---|---|
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Service years | 1915–1919 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 5th Battalion Cheshire Regiment |
| Conflicts | World War I Battle of the Somme |
| Awards | Military Cross |
MajorArthur John AllmandKSGMCFRSFRIC (7 January 1885 – 4 August 1951) was an English chemist, professor ofKing's College London and Knight of the Roman CatholicOrder of St. Gregory the Great.
Born 1885 inWrexham, Wales to Frank (1858–1948[1]) and Mary Allmand,née Thomas[2] (1861–1918[3]) Frank Allmand, was the son of John and Elizabeth Allmand of Park Lodge, Rhosddu Road. The Allmands came from theMalpas area ofCheshire. Frank Allmand was aflour miller of Wrexham who originally owned awater mill, and later asteam mill. Frank Allmand's mill was later burnt down and this combined with the decline of smaller mills in the late 19th Century meant he subsequently became a corn and flour dealer.[4] To supliment his income Frank Allmand bred large white pigs gaining championships at the ‘Bath and West’ and other prizes.The family were not well off, but at the1891 census had two servants.[5][4] Mary Allmand's father was a Timber Merchant.[2] Allmand spent his early years at23 Chester Street, Wrexham later the District Registry office.[6]
Allmand's education first began in aDame School in Wrexham until 1894 before proceeding to London to live with his Aunt in order to attendAlleyn's School, Dulwich on a Scholarship that waived his fees. On account of his aunt leaving London, he returned to Wrexam in 1898 where he attended Grove Park School.[7]Allmand had decided to become a Chemist after being shown an article inThe Scotsman by Professor Tapp of theUniversity of Aberdeen. Despite the disapproval from his headmaster at Grove Park School for not pursuing a university education atOxford Allmand passed thematriculation exam in 1901 inLondon, being placed 9th in honours. From there in 1902 Allmand attendedUniversity College Liverpool, Victoria University laterUniversity of Liverpool studying chemistry at first underJames Campbell Brown with three Scholarships, the Gilchrist, the Tate Scholarship in technical science and one from theDenbighshire Education Committee. At Liverpool Allmand was a close contemporary ofFrancis Arthur Freeth andWarrington Yorke, with the trio always sitting side by side.
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Outside of Chemistry Allmand came under the influence ofBernard Pares, from whom he learntRussian, theCeltic ScholarKuno Myer, from whom he learnt someCeltic Philology and the linguistJohn Sampson. The Literary ScholarOliver Elton was so impressed by his literary ability that he unsuccessfully asked him to join his staff.[citation needed]
Allmand graduated with afirst-class honours degree in Chemistry in 1905.[citation needed]
Allmands early career was spent at the University of Liverpool as a researcher under ofFrederick Donnan where he assisted with design and equipment of the Muspratt Laboratory of Physical Chemistry. It was here Allmand developed a real interest inelectrochemistry. Allmand then undertook anM.Sc degree in 1906, and aD.Sc in 1910.[citation needed]
It was in 1910 that Allmand was awarded an1851 Research Fellowship awarded to "young scientists or engineers of exceptional promise" which took him to theUniversity of Karlsruhe where Allmand worked underFritz Haber between 1910 and 1911 and subsequently toRoyal Saxon Polytechnic Institute,Dresden under Robert Luther between 1911 and 1912. Between 1912 and 1913 Allmand became Donnan’s research assistant in Liverpool and accompanied him to London when Donnan succeededSir William Ramsay as the Chair of Chemistry atUniversity College, London.[citation needed]
In 1913 Allmand returned to the University of Liverpool where Allmand was assistant lecturer and demonstrator, holding this position till 1919.[citation needed]
Allmand was in Germany at the start ofWorld War I in 1914, and had to escape the country viaPoland,Russia andSweden.
It was after this that Allmand decided to pursue a commission in theBritish Army.
In October 1914 Allmand sent a telegram to his university contemporary Frederick Freeth, who was serving in the 5th Battalion the22nd (Cheshire) Regiment, T.A:
‘Can you assist me to obtain a commission in the Cheshire Regiment’.
To which the reply came:
‘Yes, if you will shave off your beard’.
He was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment in January 1915 and in the spring of 1915 he joined the 5th Battalion nearYpres; they subsequently went to theSomme. After the introduction ofchemical warfare during the war Allmand, as an officer with a chemical background, was seconded from Regimental duty to Gas ServicesRoyal Engineers as Assistant Chemical Adviser to theThird Army on 30 August 1915.[8] In 1916 year he was made a Chemical Adviser to theFourth Army and in 1918 he was chemical advisor with theSecond Army, was in theArmy of Occupation and in 1919 was demobilised with the rank of Major.[7]
Allmand was awarded aMilitary Cross on 3 June 1916.[9]
After leaving the University of Liverpool Allmand's next role was as Professor of Chemistry atKing's College, London starting in 1919 until 1950, when he retired. During this time he also served asDean of the faculty, and was also titled as "Senior Professor".
It was around this time that Allmand developed a growing interest in photochemistry and by 1924 had several researches in bothphotochemistry and electrochemistry. Through photochemistry he pursuedkinetic theory andreaction kinetics that according to Frederick Freeth in his obituary "added greatly to the breadth of Allmand’s learning and the interest of his school."[7]
Allmand was a Vice-President of theChemical Society and President of theFaraday Society, between the years of 1947 and 1948. Allmand was an Honorary Fellow of thePolish Chemical Society. He was elected as a fellow into theRoyal Society in 1929 and was a Fellow of theRoyal Institute of Chemistry, a fellow of the Electroplaters Technical Society and for many years was a member of theAmerican Chemical Society and theDeutsche Bunsen Gesellschaft.[4]
A landmark and reported turning point in his life was his conversion to his wife's faith, theRoman Catholic Church. Allmand was reported to be naturally a religious man, and held a devotion to the Catholic Church all his life.
In his obituary it was written by Francis Arthur Freeth that:
Allmand’s main working life was dominated by his intense religious conviction that his duty was to serve his country, his university and his students to the greater glory of God.[2]
Allmand's devotion and piousness to the Catholic Church is the indicated by the fact thatPope Pius VII made him aKnight of the Order of Saint Gregory in 1950.[citation needed]
Allmand married Marguerite Marie Suzannie Malicorne (25 February 1896[10] - April 1957) 17 July 1920 inSaint-Mandé. Malicornes parents wereNormans from theSaint-Lô district; small landowners and professionals. There were three children of the marriage:
Allmand had some knowledge of the Welsh language, but was not fluent. The Allmand household was a bilingual one, where bothFrench andEnglish were spoken on account of Allmand's French wife. Allmand was said to be often dressed in a blue suit, flannel shirt andregimental tie and was said to be committed to his duty with an enthusiasm for army life and training.
The Allmand family home was No 5 North Square,Hampstead Garden Suburb.[14]
Major Arthur John Allmand died on 4 August 1951 after a botched operation. Allmand's funeral was held atSt Edward the Confessor Church, Golders Green.
InSir Ernest Barker's biographyAge and Youth: Memories of Three Universities and Father of the Man, Baker writes of King’s College, London, and says:
‘in chemistry there was that rare spirit, saint as well as chemist whose memory is a benediction, A. J. Allmand’.[19]
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