Hans Thacher Clarke
Encyclopedia
Hans Thacher Clarke was one of the world's leading biochemists.
His father, Joseph Thacher Clarke, was an archaeologist who was friendly with George Eastman
of the Kodak company. At the onset of World War I
Kodak had to begin making all the photographic chemicals they had previously imported from Germany, and this led to the appointment of Hans Clarke as the sole organic chemist with the Kodak company. He had previously undertaken a chemistry degree at University College, London, studying under Sir William Ramsay
amongst others and graduating with a B. Sc. in 1908, and afterwards had obtained an 1851 Research Fellowship
to study with Emil Fischer
in Berlin
.
Clarke stayed with Kodak until 1928, when he was invited to become the Professor of Biological Chemistry in the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
. His time at Kodak resulted in few publications in the chemical literature, but Clarke contributed the preparation of 26 substances to the Organic Syntheses
series, and checked no fewer than 65 others. He stayed associated with Kodak for the rest of his life, only retiring as a consultant in 1969.
He was required to retire from Columbia at the mandatory age of 68 in 1956, but then moved to Yale University
and spent eight years in full-time research. When Yale required the space he was occupying he moved again, and did another seven years' work at the Children's Cancer Relief Foundation
in Boston, Massachusetts.
He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
in 1942, and served on the boards of the Journal of the American Chemical Society
and of the Journal of Biological Chemistry
. He is probably best known for his work on the eponymously named Eschweiler-Clarke reaction
.
His father, Joseph Thacher Clarke, was an archaeologist who was friendly with George Eastman
George Eastman
George Eastman was an American innovator and entrepreneur who founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented roll film, helping to bring photography to the mainstream...
of the Kodak company. At the onset of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Kodak had to begin making all the photographic chemicals they had previously imported from Germany, and this led to the appointment of Hans Clarke as the sole organic chemist with the Kodak company. He had previously undertaken a chemistry degree at University College, London, studying under Sir William Ramsay
William Ramsay
Sir William Ramsay was a Scottish chemist who discovered the noble gases and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1904 "in recognition of his services in the discovery of the inert gaseous elements in air" .-Early years:Ramsay was born in Glasgow on 2...
amongst others and graduating with a B. Sc. in 1908, and afterwards had obtained an 1851 Research Fellowship
1851 Research Fellowship
The 1851 Research Fellowship is a UK scheme conducted by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to annually award a three-year research scholarship to approximately eight "young scientists or engineers of exceptional promise"...
to study with Emil Fischer
Emil Fischer
Emil Fischer may refer to:* Emil Fischer , German dramatic basso* Franz Joseph Emil Fischer , German chemist, worked with oil and coal* Hermann Emil Fischer , German Nobel laureate in chemistry...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Clarke stayed with Kodak until 1928, when he was invited to become the Professor of Biological Chemistry in the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
. His time at Kodak resulted in few publications in the chemical literature, but Clarke contributed the preparation of 26 substances to the Organic Syntheses
Organic Syntheses
Organic Syntheses is a scientific journal that since 1921 has provided the chemistry community with annual collections of detailed and checked procedures for the organic synthesis of organic compounds. The journal is peer reviewed...
series, and checked no fewer than 65 others. He stayed associated with Kodak for the rest of his life, only retiring as a consultant in 1969.
He was required to retire from Columbia at the mandatory age of 68 in 1956, but then moved to Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and spent eight years in full-time research. When Yale required the space he was occupying he moved again, and did another seven years' work at the Children's Cancer Relief Foundation
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana–Farber Cancer Institute is part of a Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute. It is a major affiliate of Harvard Medical School and is located in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts.-Overview:...
in Boston, Massachusetts.
He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
in 1942, and served on the boards of the Journal of the American Chemical Society
Journal of the American Chemical Society
The Journal of the American Chemical Society is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1879 by the American Chemical Society. The journal has absorbed two other publications in its history, the Journal of Analytical and Applied Chemistry and the American Chemical Journal...
and of the Journal of Biological Chemistry
Journal of Biological Chemistry
The Journal of Biological Chemistry is a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal that was established in 1905. Since 1925 it is published by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. It covers research in any area of biochemistry or molecular biology. The editor-in-chief is...
. He is probably best known for his work on the eponymously named Eschweiler-Clarke reaction
Eschweiler-Clarke reaction
The Eschweiler–Clarke reaction is a chemical reaction whereby a primary amine is methylated using excess formic acid and formaldehyde. Reductive amination reactions such as this one will not produce quaternary ammonium salts, but instead will stop at the tertiary amine stage...
.