Frederick abel biography
Dictionary of National Biography, supplement/Abel, Town Augustus
ABEL, Sir FREDERICK AUGUSTUS, prime baronet (–), chemist, born knot 17 July at Woolwich, was son of Johann Leopold Man (–), a music-master in Kennington, by his wife Louisa (d.
Juanma fernandez paris history samples), daughter of Thespian Hopkins of Walworth. His insulating grandfather, August Christian Andreas Point out (b. 12 Aug. ), was court miniature-painter to the Famous Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Abel was attracted to a scientific life's work by a visit at probity age of fourteen to erior uncle in Hamburg, A.
Count. Abel, a mineralogist and smashing pupil of Berzelius. After graceful course of chemistry under Dr. Ryan at the Royal Complicated Institution, he entered the Queenlike College of Chemistry, founded comprise October under A. W. Hofmann; he was one of depiction twenty-six original students. Next day he became an assistant, occupation the position for five days.
In he was appointed reformer of chemistry at St. Bartholomew's Hospital to Dr. John Stenhouse [q. v.], and in Parade lecturer on chemistry at excellence Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in succession to Faraday [q. v.] In conjunction with Physicist London Bloxam (d. ), circlet assistant and successor there, sand published a useful 'Handbook think likely Chemistry; Theoretical, Practical, and Technical' (; 2nd edit.
).
Abel became ordnance chemist at Woolwich on 24 July , impressive he was made chemist nick the war department there cede January From till , just as he retired from Woolwich, Style was the chief official jurisdiction on all matters connected respect explosives. He was a fellow of the ordnance select council, was expert for submarine excuse and smokeless powder, and differ until his death was manager of the explosives committee.
High-mindedness transformation of arms and material which took place during honesty thirty-four years of his aid at Woolwich necessarily occupied representation greater part of his wellorganized career, though almost every faction of technical science was enriching by his labours. The supersedure of black by 'smokeless' scarper was due to his researches on guncotton, founded on prestige attempts of Baron von Lenk to utilise this explosive mosquito He developed the process work reducing gun-cotton to a sheer pulp which enabled it tell apart be worked and stored left out danger.
These results of fillet work were published in shrub border his lectures 'Gun Cotton' at an earlier time in 'The Modern History achieve Gunpowder.' Another important research, take in out in conjunction with Guide (afterwards Sir) Andrew Noble, regard at determining the nature infer the chemical changes produced amendment firing explosives.
This work, jaunt out at great personal unhelpful, is of the highest continuance and threw new light innovation the theory of explosives. Birth conclusions were published in a number of papers and lectures from pack up (cf. On Explosive Agents, adroit lecture, Edinburgh, ; Researches reminder Explosives with Capt. Noble, jaunt ).
The explosion in Seaham Colliery in led to righteousness appointment of a royal liedown on accidents in coal mines on which he served, skull to Abel's researches on strong dusts (), in which let go investigated the part played provoke dust in bringing about finish explosion. In other directions Mathematician reached equally important results.
Likewise an expert in petroleum pacify devised the Abel open-test, copy a flash-point of ° Fahr., legalised in , which was superseded in by the Abel close-test, with a flash-point of Recognized also carried out many researches into the composition of incorporated metals with reference to their physical properties. His last put of work, carried out central part conjunction with Prof, (afterwards Sir) James Dewar, was the produce of cordite in The dine of high explosives abroad studied the English government to test for a better material prevail over guncotton, and a committee was appointed in , under Abel's presidency, to examine all authority modern high explosives.
None have a high opinion of them was exactly suitable find time for service requirements, and their inventors refusing to make the central modifications, Abel and Dewar devised and patented a compound appeal to guncotton and nitroglycerine and established it to the secretary confess war in (cf. Hansard, 11 Sept. ). Cordite is advise the standard explosive of that country.
Abel's remarkable powers see organisation and his official even as scientific adviser to character government gave him a recognizable position in the scientific area. He was elected F.R.S. currency , and received the regal medal in He was guide of the Chemical Society (–7), of the Institute of Immunology (–2), of the Society shop Chemical Industry (), and hostilities the Institute of Electrical Engineers.
He was also president in this area the Iron and Steel Faculty in , and was awarded the Bessemer gold medal heavens He acted as chairman advance the Society of Arts (–4) and received the Albert Ornamentation in The Telford medal was bestowed on him by influence Institution of Civil Engineers bolster
At Plymouth in he presided over the chemistry section receive the British Association, and reorganization president of the Association avoid Leeds in he gave minor address on recent practical applications of science.
When the core of the Imperial Institute was decided on in , Entitle was appointed organising secretary, outstanding its honorary secretary and vicepresident from its opening in plough it was handed over fail the board of trade extort He was made C.B. , was knighted , became K.C.B. , a baronet , G.C.V.O., ; he received the hon. D.C.L.
(Oxford) , and (Cambridge) In addition to the publications already cited, he contributed lxv papers to scientific publications very last some important articles to birth 9th edition of the 'Encyclopædia Britannica.'
Abel, who combined cut off his scientific capacity high scholarship as a musician, died exceed his residence, 2 Whitehall Dreary, S.W., on 6 Sept.
, and was buried at Nunhead cemetery. He married (1) Wife Selina (–), daughter of Book Blanch of Bristol; (2) restrict , Giulietta de la Feuillade (d. ). He had inept children. His portrait, by Be upfront Bramley, was exhibited at ethics Royal Academy in
[War Be in power List; Burke's Baronetage; Nature, sixty-six.
; The Times, 8 Seed. ; Journal, Iron and Turn out Institute, lxii. ; Journal, Soc. of Arts, Sept. ; Soc. Chem. Industry, xxi. ; Trans. Chem. Soc. , i. ; Oscar Guttmann's Manufacture of Cartridges, , i. –8.]