Herbert McLeod
Encyclopedia
Herbert McLeod was a British chemist, noted for the invention of the McLeod gauge
and for the invention of a sunshine recorder.
on 9 Feb 1841 and died 3 October 1923,
while other biographies state that he was born in Stoke Newington on 19 February 1841 and died 1 October 1923, a further alternative biography states that he was born 19 February 1842 in the adjacent area of Stamford Hill
, North London
, and died in Richmond, Surrey on 1 October 1923.
McLeod was educated at Stockwell
Grammar School. In 1855 he started studying chemistry in London with George Frederick Ansell
. In 1856 he joined the Royal College of Chemistry
, London. He worked as lecture assistant of August Wilhelm von Hofmann
from 1860 on. When Hofman received a call to the University of Berlin he joined him, but came back after a short time to the Royal College of Chemistry. McLeod became assistant of Edward Frankland
. He largely stayed at the college until 1871. McLeod was appointed professor at the Royal Indian Engineering College
, where he stayed till his retirement in 1901. McLeod helped Lord Salisbury, later Prime Minister, with some experiments in the 1860s
During his time at the Indian Engineering College he worked on various subjects including meteorology, physics and chemistry. In 1874 he published a paper with a new and innovative vacuum gauge, this is known as the McLeod gauge
. McLeod was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1881 and from 1888 he was proof reading the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific papers. He carried on the work with the Catalogue of the Royal Society til 1915 when his health did not allow him to continue.
He married Amelia Woodley, with whom he had 3 sons and 2 daughters.
He was a Fellow
of the Chemical Society
, and of the Royal Society
, and active in the British Association for the Advancement of Science
. As a devout Christian, he tried to reconcile science with scripture.
McLeod gauge
A McLeod gauge is a scientific instrument used to measure very low pressures, down to 10-6 Torr. It was invented in 1874 by Herbert McLeod . McLeod gauges were once commonly found attached to equipment that operates under a vacuum, such as a lyophilizer...
and for the invention of a sunshine recorder.
Biography
McLeod was born in Stoke NewingtonStoke Newington
Stoke Newington is a district in the London Borough of Hackney. It is north-east of Charing Cross.-Boundaries:In modern terms, Stoke Newington can be roughly defined by the N16 postcode area . Its southern boundary with Dalston is quite ill-defined too...
on 9 Feb 1841 and died 3 October 1923,
while other biographies state that he was born in Stoke Newington on 19 February 1841 and died 1 October 1923, a further alternative biography states that he was born 19 February 1842 in the adjacent area of Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill
Stamford Hill is a place in the north of the London Borough of Hackney, England, near the border with Haringey. It is home to Europe's largest Hasidic Jewish and Adeni Jewish community.Stamford Hill is NNE of Charing Cross.-History:...
, North London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and died in Richmond, Surrey on 1 October 1923.
McLeod was educated at Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
Grammar School. In 1855 he started studying chemistry in London with George Frederick Ansell
George Frederick Ansell
George Frederick Ansell was an English scientific inventor, chemist and assayer, and author of a standard work on the Royal Mint.-Biography:...
. In 1856 he joined 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....
, London. He worked as lecture assistant of August Wilhelm von Hofmann
August Wilhelm von Hofmann
August Wilhelm von Hofmann was a German chemist.-Biography:Hofmann was born at Gießen, Grand Duchy of Hesse. Not intending originally to devote himself to physical science, he first took up the study of law and philology at Göttingen. But he then turned to chemistry, and studied under Justus von...
from 1860 on. When Hofman received a call to the University of Berlin he joined him, but came back after a short time to the Royal College of Chemistry. McLeod became assistant of Edward Frankland
Edward Frankland
Sir Edward Frankland, KCB, FRS was a chemist, one of the foremost of his day. He was an expert in water quality and analysis, and originated the concept of combining power, or valence, in chemistry. He was also one of the originators of organometallic chemistry.-Biography:Edward Frankland was born...
. He largely stayed at the college until 1871. McLeod was appointed professor at the Royal Indian Engineering College
Royal Indian Engineering College
The Royal Indian Engineering College was a British college of Civil Engineering founded by Sir George Tomkyns Chesney in 1870. It was intended to train engineers for the Indian Public Works department. The work of the college was transferred to India in 1906....
, where he stayed till his retirement in 1901. McLeod helped Lord Salisbury, later Prime Minister, with some experiments in the 1860s
During his time at the Indian Engineering College he worked on various subjects including meteorology, physics and chemistry. In 1874 he published a paper with a new and innovative vacuum gauge, this is known as the McLeod gauge
McLeod gauge
A McLeod gauge is a scientific instrument used to measure very low pressures, down to 10-6 Torr. It was invented in 1874 by Herbert McLeod . McLeod gauges were once commonly found attached to equipment that operates under a vacuum, such as a lyophilizer...
. McLeod was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1881 and from 1888 he was proof reading the Royal Society's Catalogue of Scientific papers. He carried on the work with the Catalogue of the Royal Society til 1915 when his health did not allow him to continue.
He married Amelia Woodley, with whom he had 3 sons and 2 daughters.
He was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Chemical Society
Chemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
, and 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"...
, and active in the British Association for the Advancement of Science
British Association for the Advancement of Science
frame|right|"The BA" logoThe British Association for the Advancement of Science or the British Science Association, formerly known as the BA, is a learned society with the object of promoting science, directing general attention to scientific matters, and facilitating interaction between...
. As a devout Christian, he tried to reconcile science with scripture.