Arthur Vogel (chemist) explained

Arthur Vogel
Birth Date:22 December 1905
Birth Place:Dębica, Poland
Death Date:1966
Education:Queen Mary University of London
Organisation:

Arthur Israel Vogel (22 December 1905[1] – 1966) was a British chemist known for his Chemistry textbooks.[2] [3] He became the head of the chemistry department at Woolwich Polytechnic at the age of 27.[4] [3]

Academic career

Vogel's first job was at Queen Mary University of London, continuing from his BSc, working with Professor J. R. Partington and achieving an MSc.[3] After a short spell at University College London, he joined Imperial College London and the research school of Sir Jocelyn Field Thorpe. During his time there he received a D.Sc for his research on surface tension, electrochemistry, organic synthesis and sulphur chemistry.[3]

After a short departure from academia with a foray into industry, Vogel joined the Hartley University College in 1930 as a lecturer of science.[3] Two years later he joined the Woolwich Polytechinic as the Lecturer-in-Charge at 27 years old, a role that evolved into the Head of Chemistry. During this time the Polytechnic became an Institution with Recognised Teachers of the University of London. During the 1940s Vogel formed the Woolwich Polytechnic Chemical Society, which organised lectures with world renowned scientists.[3]

Text books

Vogel was hugely influential with his textbooks making practical chemistry text available globally.[5] [6]

Vogel's textbooks included:

These works were revised and translated in numerous editions and so became classics in the field. After Vogel died, further revisions were made by new authors. For example, the Textbook of Qualitative Chemical Analysis continued as the Textbook of macro and semimicro qualitative inorganic analysis with a new edition by G. Svehla in 1979.

Selected studies

Personal life

Vogel was born in Dębica, Poland, to an orthodox Jewish family. They emigrated to England in 1908 and lived at Wellclose Square, Tower Hamlets, London. He was educated at Davenant Foundation School in Whitechapel, before studying at Queen Mary University of London, where he graduated with First Class Honours in chemistry.[7]

Notes and References

  1. 1939 England and Wales Register
  2. Vogel, Arthur Israel. Encyclopaedia Judaica. en.
  3. Web site: Arthur Vogel's Impact. The Society of Chemical Industry. 29 January 2021.
  4. Weintraub. Bob. The London Marathon, The University of Greenwich, and Arthur Israel Vogel. Chemistry in Israel, Bulletin of the Israel Chemical Society. August 2001. 7. 28–29. October 4, 2016 .
  5. Web site: The impact of A.I. Vogel: Elements of the man, his research and globally influential practical chemistry texts. Royal Society of Chemistry. 29 January 2021.
  6. Web site: Arthur Israel Vogel (1905-1966): the man and his contributions to chemistry. Royal Society of Chemistry. 29 January 2021.
  7. Marchant . John . Cass . Stewart . Garfield . Sue . Kuzuk . Glynis . Lipman . Susan . Perez . Gabrielle . 2 . March 2013 . A Man with Sheer Chemistry: Arthur Israel Vogel 1905–1966 . Habimah . . 3132 . Stanmore . en . . https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/36254362/stanmore-canons-park-synagogue-stanmore-and-/33 . yumpu.com. 21 December 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221221060501/https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/36254362/stanmore-canons-park-synagogue-stanmore-and-/33 . 21 December 2022.