Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 70

Sir William Ramsay

Chemist, born in Glasgow, W Scotland, UK. He studied at Heidelberg, and became professor of chemistry at Bristol (1880–7) and University College London (1887–1912). In conjunction with Lord Rayleigh he discovered argon in 1894. Later he identified helium, neon, krypton, and xenon, and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1904.

William Ramsay

William Ramsay
Born October 2, 1852
Glasgow, Scotland
Died July 23, 1916
High Wycombe, Bucks., England
Residence UK
Nationality Scottish
Field Chemist
Institution University of Bristol (1880–87)
University of London (1887–1913)
Alma Mater University of Glasgow
University of Tübingen
Doctoral Advisor Wilhelm Rudolph Fittig
Doctoral Students Edward Charles Cyril Baly
James Johnston Dobbie
Known for Noble gases
Notable Prizes Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1904)

Sir William Ramsay (October 2, 1852 – July 23, 1916) was a Scottish chemist who discovered the noble gases and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 (along with Lord Rayleigh who received the Nobel Prize in Physics that same year for the discovery of argon).

The current upper school Sir William Ramsay School, based in Hazlemere in High Wycombe, is named after him and was built in 1976.

User Comments Add a comment…

Sir William Robert Grove [next] [back] Sir William Quiller Orchardson