Percival Spencer Umfreville Pickering
Encyclopedia
Percival Spencer Umfreville (Spencer) Pickering (6 March 1858 – 5 December 1920) was a British chemist
and horticulturist.
Pickering grew up in a wealthy family, and was able to start a career in science by building his own laboratory in his private house. In 1881, he took up a position as lecturer at Bedford College, where he stayed until 1887. After losing an eye in a serious accident in his lab, his health waned and he moved to the countryside to the village of Harpenden
. Among the residents of the village were already four fellows of the Royal Society
, and Pickering was to become the fifth by 1890.
From 1894 on, he was director of the Woburn
Experimental Fruit Farm, a private establishment by Pickering and the Duke of Bedford
, where he worked to improved to improve horticultural techniques.
In 1907 he discovered the phenomenon that emulsions can be stabilised by small particles instead of emulsifiers, nowadays referred to as Pickering stabilization
, although the effect was already recognized by Walter Ramsden in 1903.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
and horticulturist.
Pickering grew up in a wealthy family, and was able to start a career in science by building his own laboratory in his private house. In 1881, he took up a position as lecturer at Bedford College, where he stayed until 1887. After losing an eye in a serious accident in his lab, his health waned and he moved to the countryside to the village of Harpenden
Harpenden
Harpenden is a town in Hertfordshire, England.The town's total population is just under 30,000.-Geography and administration:There are two civil parishes: Harpenden and Harpenden Rural....
. Among the residents of the village were already four fellows 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 Pickering was to become the fifth by 1890.
From 1894 on, he was director of the Woburn
Woburn, Bedfordshire
Woburn is a small Saxon village and civil parish in Bedfordshire, England. It is situated about southeast of the centre of Milton Keynes, and about south of junction 13 of the M1 motorway and is a popular tourist attraction.-History:...
Experimental Fruit Farm, a private establishment by Pickering and the Duke of Bedford
Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford
Herbrand Arthur Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford KG KBE DL LLD FRS FSA was the son of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford.-Family:...
, where he worked to improved to improve horticultural techniques.
In 1907 he discovered the phenomenon that emulsions can be stabilised by small particles instead of emulsifiers, nowadays referred to as Pickering stabilization
Pickering emulsion
A Pickering emulsion is an emulsion that is stabilized by solid particles which adsorb onto the interface between the two phases. This type of emulsion was named after S.U...
, although the effect was already recognized by Walter Ramsden in 1903.
Literature
- E.J. Russell, Obituary notice: Percival Spencer Umfreville Pickering, Biochemical Journal 15, 1–3 (1921).
- S.U. Pickering, Emulsions, Journal of the Chemical Society 91, 2001-2021 (1907).
- W. Ramsden, Proceedings of the Royal Society (London) B 72, 156-164 (1903).