Geoffrey Raynor
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Vincent Raynor FRS (2 October 1913 – 20 October 1983) was a British metallurgist and university academic.
before studying Chemistry at Keble College, Oxford
, obtaining a first-class degree in 1936. He then worked as a research assistant at the University of Oxford
, working with William Hume-Rothery
, and carried out metallurgical
research for the Ministry of Supply
and Ministry of Aircraft Production during the Second World War. In 1945, he moved to the University of Birmingham
as a research fellow, with the course that he taught in structural and theoretical metallurgy becoming "the forerunner for the development of metallurgical teaching all over the world". He was made Reader
of Theoretical Metallurgy in 1947 and Professor of Metal Physics in 1949. He was the Feeney Professor of Physical Metallurgy from 1955 to 1969, and was also head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy and Science of Materials during this latter period. He also served the university as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and then Deputy Principal for four years. He retired from the university in 1981, and was made an Emeritus Professor.
Raynor was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1959 and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences
in 1961; he was made an Honorary Fellow of Keble in 1972. He was a visiting professor at various times at Chicago University, Ohio State University
, Witwatersrand University, and the University of New South Wales
.
The Times
said of him that his research gained "international acclaim" and that he had "played a leading part in the development of the chemistry of alloy phases", with his contributions to the subject "likely to be included in the teaching of metallurgy and to be of practical value for many decades."
Life
Raynor was educated at Nottingham High SchoolNottingham High School
Nottingham High School is a British boys' independent school situated about a mile north of Nottingham city centre. It has around 900 pupils from ages 11 to 18 and there is the adjoining Nottingham High Junior School catering for younger boys and, from September 2008, the Lovell House...
before studying Chemistry at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
, obtaining a first-class degree in 1936. He then worked as a research assistant at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, working with William Hume-Rothery
William Hume-Rothery
William Hume-Rothery OBE was a British metallurgist who studied the constitution of alloys.- Career :Hume-Rothery was born the son of lawyer Joseph Hume-Rothery in Worcester Park, Surrey but spent his youth in Cheltenham and was educated at Cheltenham College. In 1917 he was made totally deaf by a...
, and carried out metallurgical
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
research for the Ministry of Supply
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
and Ministry of Aircraft Production during the Second World War. In 1945, he moved to the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
as a research fellow, with the course that he taught in structural and theoretical metallurgy becoming "the forerunner for the development of metallurgical teaching all over the world". He was made Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
of Theoretical Metallurgy in 1947 and Professor of Metal Physics in 1949. He was the Feeney Professor of Physical Metallurgy from 1955 to 1969, and was also head of the Department of Physical Metallurgy and Science of Materials during this latter period. He also served the university as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering and then Deputy Principal for four years. He retired from the university in 1981, and was made an Emeritus Professor.
Raynor was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1959 and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
in 1961; he was made an Honorary Fellow of Keble in 1972. He was a visiting professor at various times at Chicago University, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Witwatersrand University, and the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
said of him that his research gained "international acclaim" and that he had "played a leading part in the development of the chemistry of alloy phases", with his contributions to the subject "likely to be included in the teaching of metallurgy and to be of practical value for many decades."