Alexander Charles Cumming (12 August 1880 – 28 September 1940), usually credited as A. C. Cumming, was an Australian analytical chemist and textbook author.

Biography

Cumming was born in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, Australia on 12 August 1880. He attended

Caulfield Grammar School Caulfield Grammar School is an Independent school, independent, co-educational, Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican, International Baccalaureate, day school, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as ...

. He attended the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

graduating BSc in 1902 and obtaining a DSc in 1905. In 1908 he went to

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

in Scotland to lecture in chemistry, later technical chemistry, at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

. At that time he is listed as living at 16 Kilmaurs Terrace, just off Dalkeith Road in south-west Edinburgh. In May 1914, he was elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Edinburgh The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity that operates on a wholly independent and non-partisan basis and provides public benefit throughout Scotland. It was established i ...

. His proposers were Sir James Walker, Leonard Dobbin, Alexander Lauder and William Cramer. In the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

he was involved in the manufacture of TNT at the Lothian Chemical Company on Broughton Road, then moved to HM Explosives Factory at Craigleith on the west side of the city. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the

1918 Birthday Honours The 1918 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, 3 June a ...

for his war work. In 1921, he left Edinburgh and university life for employment in Macfie & Sons Sugar Refinery in Liverpool, and within three years he was managing director of the company. He retired to Wales in 1938 and died there of heart failure on a shooting trip on 28 September 1940.

Publications

*''On the Potential Due to Liquid Contact'' (1913) *''The Manufacture of Acids and Alkalis'' (1924) *''The Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid'' (1925) *''A Textbook of Quantitative Chemical Analysis'' *''Practical Chemistry for Medical Students'' *''An Old Minute Book - The Edinburgh Sugarhouse Co 1763 to 1773''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Cumming, Alexander Charles 1880 births 1940 deaths Australian scientists Academics of the University of Edinburgh Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Scientists from Melbourne Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Caulfield Grammar School

Biography

Publications

See also

References

External links