John Arthur Phillips
Encyclopedia
John Arthur Phillips was a British geologist
. He was born at Polgooth
, near St Austell
in Cornwall
the son of John Phillips, who at one time was occupied as a mineral agent, and of Prudence Gaved of Tregian, St Ewe
.
he was placed with a surveyor, but soon turned his attention to metallurgy
, especially in connection with electricity. He was also involved with the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
where he collaborated with Robert Were Fox the Younger
and Robert Hunt
in experiments connected with electricity and the deposition of metallic copper.
Phillips entered as a student at the École des Mines, Paris
, in December 1844, and graduated in 1846.
. From 1848 to 1850 he was also professor of metallurgy at the college for civil engineers, Putney; and again, later in life, lectured at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1875 and 1877.
In 1853 he went to California
, remaining there twelve months, but returning thither in 1865, and again in 1866. During these two visits he made a number of observations on the connection between hot springs
and mineral vein deposits, which were embodied in an important paper, published by the Geological Society of London
. He continued to reside in London till 1868, but made frequent professional journeys to various parts of Europe and to North Africa, besides those already named. In the latter year he went to Liverpool
to build and manage the works of the Widnes Metal Company. The undertaking proved to be so prosperous that he was able to return to London in 1877, and afterwards to retire from business. He married Mary Ann Andrew, daughter of George Andrew of Carne
, St Mewan
, Cornwall, on 1 January 1850, and died suddenly on 5 January 1887, at 18 Fopstone Road, S.W.
, leaving a son and a daughter.
Phillips took out patents for improvements in metal production and refining, and was one of the first scientists to use the polarizing microscope to study rock and mineral structures.
and member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
. Of all these, his extensive and accurate knowledge, always at the service of his friends, his sound judgment, and sterling integrity, made him a valued member.
, the Philosophical Magazine
, the Chemical News, and other scientific journals. Besides sundry pamphlets, he also published a work in 1867 on the Mining and Metallurgy of Gold and Silver; a Manual of Metallurgy in 1852, on the fourth edition of which he was engaged, in collaboration with Mr. Bauerman, at the time of his death; and a Treatise on Ore Deposits in 1884.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
. He was born at Polgooth
Polgooth
Polgooth is a former mining village in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. It lies mainly in the parish of St Mewan and partly in the parish of St Ewe...
, near St Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
the son of John Phillips, who at one time was occupied as a mineral agent, and of Prudence Gaved of Tregian, St Ewe
St Ewe
St Ewe is a civil parish and village in mid-Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles southwest of St Austell.-Antiquities:...
.
Education
After an education at a private school at St BlazeySt Blazey
St Blazey is a small town in Cornwall, United Kingdom.St Blaise is the civil parish in which St Blazey is situated; the name St Blaise is also used by the town council.St Blazey is situated east of St Austell...
he was placed with a surveyor, but soon turned his attention to metallurgy
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...
, especially in connection with electricity. He was also involved with the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society
The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society is an educational, cultural and scientific charity, based in Falmouth, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The Society exists to promote innovation in the arts and sciences...
where he collaborated with Robert Were Fox the Younger
Robert Were Fox the Younger
Robert Were Fox FRS was a British geologist, natural philosopher and inventor. He is known mainly for his work on the temperature of the earth and his construction of a compass to measure magnetic dip at sea....
and Robert Hunt
Robert Hunt (scientist)
Robert Hunt , a scientist and antiquarian, was born at Devonport, Plymouth, in the United Kingdom. He was involved in statistical, mineralogical and other studies. He died in London on 17 October 1887.-Early life:...
in experiments connected with electricity and the deposition of metallic copper.
Phillips entered as a student at the École des Mines, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, in December 1844, and graduated in 1846.
Work
For about two years he held a post at a French colliery, but returned to England in 1848. Here, after serving as chemist to a government commission on the question of coal for the navy, and as manager to some chemical works, he started on his own account as a mining engineer and consulting metallurgist in LondonLondon
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...
. From 1848 to 1850 he was also professor of metallurgy at the college for civil engineers, Putney; and again, later in life, lectured at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1875 and 1877.
In 1853 he went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, remaining there twelve months, but returning thither in 1865, and again in 1866. During these two visits he made a number of observations on the connection between hot springs
Hot Springs
Hot Springs may refer to:* Hot Springs, Arkansas** Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas*Hot Springs, California**Hot Springs, Lassen County, California**Hot Springs, Modoc County, California**Hot Springs, Placer County, California...
and mineral vein deposits, which were embodied in an important paper, published by the Geological Society of London
Geological Society of London
The Geological Society of London is a learned society based in the United Kingdom with the aim of "investigating the mineral structure of the Earth"...
. He continued to reside in London till 1868, but made frequent professional journeys to various parts of Europe and to North Africa, besides those already named. In the latter year he went to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to build and manage the works of the Widnes Metal Company. The undertaking proved to be so prosperous that he was able to return to London in 1877, and afterwards to retire from business. He married Mary Ann Andrew, daughter of George Andrew of Carne
Carne
Carne or Carné is a surname, and may refer to* Sir Edward Carne* Elizabeth Catherine Thomas Carne* James Carne* Jean Carne* John Carne* Joseph Carne* Joseph Edmund Carne* Judy Carne* Marcel Carné* Rick Carne* Warren Carne...
, St Mewan
St Mewan
St Mewan is a civil parish and village in south Cornwall, United Kingdom.The village is approximately one mile west of St Austell. It is a small settlement, comprising the parish church, rectory, a school and nearby farms...
, Cornwall, on 1 January 1850, and died suddenly on 5 January 1887, at 18 Fopstone Road, S.W.
SW postcode area
The SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as...
, leaving a son and a daughter.
Phillips took out patents for improvements in metal production and refining, and was one of the first scientists to use the polarizing microscope to study rock and mineral structures.
Learned societies
He was elected a fellow of the Geological Society in 1872, and was a vice-president at his death. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1881, was also a Fellow of the Chemical SocietyChemical Society
The Chemical Society was formed in 1841 as a result of increased interest in scientific matters....
and member of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
. Of all these, his extensive and accurate knowledge, always at the service of his friends, his sound judgment, and sterling integrity, made him a valued member.
Publications
His scientific papers were numerous, and exceptionally valuable because of his scrupulous accuracy, his excellence as a chemist, and his wide and varied experience in the field. In addition to these qualifications he was one of the first to devote himself to the study of the microscopic structure of minerals and rocks, sections of which were prepared by himself with remarkable skill. Among his more important papers were two on the ‘Greenstones’ of Cornwall, one on the rocks of the mining districts of Cornwall, with others on the chemical and mineralogical changes in certain eruptive rocks of North Wales, on the constitution and history of grits and sandstones, and on concretionary patches and fragments of other rocks contained in granite—all published in the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London. He also contributed to the Proceedings of the Royal SocietyProceedings of the Royal Society
Proceedings of the Royal Society is the parent title of two scientific journals published by the Royal Society, whereas its initial journal, Philosophical Transactions, is now devoted to special thematic issues...
, the Philosophical Magazine
Philosophical Magazine
The Philosophical Magazine is one of the oldest scientific journals published in English. Initiated by Alexander Tilloch in 1798, in 1822 Richard Taylor became joint editor and it has been published continuously by Taylor & Francis ever since; it was the journal of choice for such luminaries as...
, the Chemical News, and other scientific journals. Besides sundry pamphlets, he also published a work in 1867 on the Mining and Metallurgy of Gold and Silver; a Manual of Metallurgy in 1852, on the fourth edition of which he was engaged, in collaboration with Mr. Bauerman, at the time of his death; and a Treatise on Ore Deposits in 1884.