William James Russell (1830–1909) was an English chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society.

Life

Born in Gloucester on 20 May 1830, he was son of Thomas Rougher Russell (1775–1851), a banker there, and grandson of William Russell of Birmingham; his mother was Mary Skey (1790–1877), fourth daughter of Col. James Skey. Educated at schools at Bristol and Birmingham, he entered University College, London, in 1847, studying chemistry under Thomas Graham and Alexander William Williamson. For two years a demonstrator at Owens College, Manchester under Edward Frankland (1851–3), Russell moved on to Heidelberg University, becoming a pupil of Robert Bunsen and graduating Ph.D. in 1855. In 1857 he became assistant to Williamson and carried out researches on the analysis of gases. From 1868 to 1870 he was lecturer in chemistry at the medical school of

St. Mary's Hospital, London St Mary's Hospital is an NHS hospital in Paddington, in the City of Westminster, London, founded in 1845. Since the UK's first academic health science centre was created in 2008, it has been operated by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, w ...

, and subsequently (1870–97) held a similar post at

St. Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust. History Early history Barts was founded in 1123 by Rahere (died ...

. He was (1860–70) professor of natural philosophy at

Bedford College, London file:Bedford College in York place - photographer is unknown but guess 1908.png, Bedford College was in York Place after 1874 Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as the first higher education college for education of women, women in th ...

, and in later life was chairman of its council. A long-time member of the Chemical Society, Russell became its president 1889–91. Elected Fellow of the Royal Society on 6 June 1872, he was

Bakerian lecturer The Bakerian Medal is one of the premier medals of the Royal Society that recognizes exceptional and outstanding science. It comes with a medal award and a prize lecture. The medalist is required to give a lecture on any topic related to physical ...

in 1898. One of the founders of the Institute of Chemistry, he was president 1894–7. He died at Ringwood on 12 November 1909.

Works

The results of Russell's work on gases were communicated to the Chemical Society, and in Henry Watts's ''Dictionary of Chemistry'' he wrote the article on "Gas Analysis" (1868). He made an extended study of the formation of London's

fog Fog is a visible aerosol consisting of tiny water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. Reprint from Fog can be considered a type of low-lying cloud usually resembling stratus, and is heavily influ ...

. Other investigations were the determination of the atomic weights of cobalt and nickel; memoirs on absorption spectra; and papers on the action of wood and other substances on a photographic plate in darkness.

Family

Russell married in 1862 Fanny, daughter of

Abraham Follett Osler Abraham Follett Osler (22 March 1808 – 26 April 1903), known as A. Follett Osler, was a pioneer in the measurement of meteorological and chronological data in Birmingham, England. Early life He attended Hazelwood School on Hagley Road, Bir ...

. They had a son, and a daughter Agnes Mary who married Alexander Scott.

Notes

External links

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, William James 1830 births 1909 deaths English chemists Fellows of the Royal Society People from Gloucester