Philip Robertson
Encyclopedia
Philip Wilfred Robertson was a New Zealand
chemist, university professor, and writer.
Philip Robertson, son of Donald Robertson was born in 1884 and educated at Wellington College
, where he was dux
in 1900. He then graduated with an MA in chemistry from Victoria University of Wellington
in 1905, followed by an MSc in 1906. He was awarded a Sir George Grey Scholarship, a Senior Scholarship and the Jacob Joseph Scholarship. He was Victoria's first Rhodes Scholar, whence he continued on to gain first-class honours in natural sciences at Trinity College, Oxford
, and a PhD at Leipzig University.
Robertson married Florence Elizabeth Graham in 1912. He took up the chair of chemistry at Victoria University College in 1920 where he headed the department for 30 years.
Robertson had an interest in literature and wrote several short stories.
In his retirement Robertson was appointed Professor Emeritus. He was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal
in 1919 and in 1950 was elected to a fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand
. Robertson died in London on 7 May 1969.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
chemist, university professor, and writer.
Philip Robertson, son of Donald Robertson was born in 1884 and educated at Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
, where he was dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
in 1900. He then graduated with an MA in chemistry from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
in 1905, followed by an MSc in 1906. He was awarded a Sir George Grey Scholarship, a Senior Scholarship and the Jacob Joseph Scholarship. He was Victoria's first Rhodes Scholar, whence he continued on to gain first-class honours in natural sciences at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
, and a PhD at Leipzig University.
Robertson married Florence Elizabeth Graham in 1912. He took up the chair of chemistry at Victoria University College in 1920 where he headed the department for 30 years.
Robertson had an interest in literature and wrote several short stories.
In his retirement Robertson was appointed Professor Emeritus. He was awarded the Hector Memorial Medal
Hector Memorial Medal
The Hector Memorial Medal is awarded annually for outstanding contribution to the advancement of the particular branch of science. It is awarded by the Royal Society of New Zealand in memory of Sir James Hector...
in 1919 and in 1950 was elected to a fellowship of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Royal Society of New Zealand
The Royal Society of New Zealand , known as the New Zealand Institute before 1933, was established in 1867 to co-ordinate and assist the activities of a number of regional research societies including the Auckland Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of...
. Robertson died in London on 7 May 1969.