Archibald Liversidge
Encyclopedia
Archibald Liversidge, FRS, (17 November 1847 – 26 September 1927) was an English
-born Australia
n chemist and founder of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.
, Chiswick, England, the son of John Liversidge and his wife Caroline Sophia, née Jarratt. Liversidge was educated at a private school and by private tutors in science, and in 1866 went to the Royal College of Chemistry
and Royal School of Mines
. In 1867 Liversidge won a Royal exhibition and medals in chemistry, mineralogy and metallurgy. Liversidge became an associate of the School of Mines and in 1870 was awarded an open scholarship in science at Christ's College, Cambridge
. In 1870 Liversidge became a demonstrator of chemistry at the university laboratory.
and began his duties there early in 1873. Liversidge became professor of geology and mineralogy in 1874, and in 1876 he published The Minerals of New South Wales, being a reprint of a paper read at the Royal Society of New South Wales
in December 1874. A second and enlarged edition appeared in 1882 and a third edition in 1888. Edward Rennie
was a pupil and the two men were in contact until Liversidge's death. In 1878 he visited the leading museums, universities and technical colleges of Europe, and in 1880 his Report upon certain Museums for Technology, Science and Art, was published at Sydney. In 1881 the title of his chair was altered to chemistry and mineralogy, and in 1891 to chemistry only. Liversidge was dean of the faculty of science from its foundation in 1882 until 1904; he also founded the school of mines at the University in 1892.
Liversidge was deeply involved in the Royal Society of New South Wales
; he was honorary secretary from 1874–84 and 1886–88, was its president in 1885, 1889 and 1900, and was for many years editor of the Society's Journal and Proceedings. In 1888 Liversidge, after much preliminary work, founded the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, was its honorary secretary from 1888 to 1909 and president in 1898. Liversidge was chairman of the original board of the Sydney technical museum, was a trustee of the Australian Museum
at Sydney
, and he founded the Sydney section of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1902. Liversidge resigned his professorship at Sydney in December 1907 and became emeritus professor. In 1909 Liversidge returned to England and became vice-president of the Society of Chemical Industry, 1909–12, and vice-president of the Chemical Society 1910-13. Liversidge then lived in retirement at Fieldhouse, Kingston Hill and died on 26 September 1927 from a heart attack. He was unmarried.
, in his "History of the Royal Society of New South Wales", said of Liversidge that "he practically re-founded the Society, organized its activities on proper lines, and made it the power for good it is to-day". Liversidge laid the foundations of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, was an honorary secretary for 21 years, and retained his interest in the association after his retirement to England. Liversidge was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
, London, in 1882, was honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
, and was given the honorary degree of LL.D. by Glasgow university. Under his will a sum of £2500 was left to the University of Sydney for scholarships and a research lectureship in chemistry.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n chemist and founder of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.
Early life
Liversidge was born at Turnham GreenTurnham Green
Turnham Green is a public park situated on Chiswick High Road, Chiswick, London. It is separated in two by a small road. Christ Church stands on the eastern half of the green. A war memorial stands on the eastern corner...
, Chiswick, England, the son of John Liversidge and his wife Caroline Sophia, née Jarratt. Liversidge was educated at a private school and by private tutors in science, and in 1866 went to the Royal College of Chemistry
Royal College of Chemistry
The Royal College of Chemistry was a college originally based on Oxford Street in central London, England. It operated between 1845 and 1872....
and Royal School of Mines
Royal School of Mines
Royal School of Mines comprises the departments of Earth Science and Engineering, and Materials at Imperial College London.- History :The Royal School of Mines was established in 1851, as the Government School of Mines and Science Applied to the Arts...
. In 1867 Liversidge won a Royal exhibition and medals in chemistry, mineralogy and metallurgy. Liversidge became an associate of the School of Mines and in 1870 was awarded an open scholarship in science at Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
. In 1870 Liversidge became a demonstrator of chemistry at the university laboratory.
Career in Australia
In 1872 Liversidge accepted the appointment of 'Reader in Geology and Assistant in the Laboratory' at the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and began his duties there early in 1873. Liversidge became professor of geology and mineralogy in 1874, and in 1876 he published The Minerals of New South Wales, being a reprint of a paper read at the Royal Society of New South Wales
Royal Society of New South Wales
The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
in December 1874. A second and enlarged edition appeared in 1882 and a third edition in 1888. Edward Rennie
Edward Rennie
Edward Henry Rennie was an Australian scientist and a president of the Royal Society of South Australia.-Early life:...
was a pupil and the two men were in contact until Liversidge's death. In 1878 he visited the leading museums, universities and technical colleges of Europe, and in 1880 his Report upon certain Museums for Technology, Science and Art, was published at Sydney. In 1881 the title of his chair was altered to chemistry and mineralogy, and in 1891 to chemistry only. Liversidge was dean of the faculty of science from its foundation in 1882 until 1904; he also founded the school of mines at the University in 1892.
Liversidge was deeply involved in the Royal Society of New South Wales
Royal Society of New South Wales
The Royal Society of New South Wales is a learned society based in Sydney, Australia. It was established as the Philosophical Society of Australasia on 27 June 1821...
; he was honorary secretary from 1874–84 and 1886–88, was its president in 1885, 1889 and 1900, and was for many years editor of the Society's Journal and Proceedings. In 1888 Liversidge, after much preliminary work, founded the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, was its honorary secretary from 1888 to 1909 and president in 1898. Liversidge was chairman of the original board of the Sydney technical museum, was a trustee of the Australian Museum
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, and he founded the Sydney section of the Society of Chemical Industry in 1902. Liversidge resigned his professorship at Sydney in December 1907 and became emeritus professor. In 1909 Liversidge returned to England and became vice-president of the Society of Chemical Industry, 1909–12, and vice-president of the Chemical Society 1910-13. Liversidge then lived in retirement at Fieldhouse, Kingston Hill and died on 26 September 1927 from a heart attack. He was unmarried.
Legacy
In addition to the works mentioned above, Liversidge published for the use of students Tables for Qualitative Chemical Analysis (second edition 1903). He also wrote over 100 papers on chemistry and mineralogy for scientific journals, many of which were issued as pamphlets, and during his stay in Australia he was an untiring worker in the cause of science. Joseph MaidenJoseph Maiden
Joseph Henry Maiden was a botanist who made a major contribution to knowledge of the Australian flora, especially the Eucalyptus genus. This botanist is denoted by the author abbreviation Maiden when citing a botanical name.Joseph Maiden was born in St John's Wood, London...
, in his "History of the Royal Society of New South Wales", said of Liversidge that "he practically re-founded the Society, organized its activities on proper lines, and made it the power for good it is to-day". Liversidge laid the foundations of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, was an honorary secretary for 21 years, and retained his interest in the association after his retirement to England. Liversidge was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, London, in 1882, was honorary fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
, and was given the honorary degree of LL.D. by Glasgow university. Under his will a sum of £2500 was left to the University of Sydney for scholarships and a research lectureship in chemistry.