Rex Richards
Encyclopedia
Sir Rex Edward Richards FRS, FRSC
, FBA (born 28 October 1922) is a British
scientist and academic. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
and a director of the Leverhulme Trust
.
Richards completed his secondary schooling at Colyton Grammar School
then proceeded on to St John's College, Oxford
. After graduating with a first in 1945 and then obtaining a DPhil
degree in 1948, Richards stayed at the University as a Fellow in Chemistry
at Lincoln College
from 1947–64. In 1964 he succeeded Sir Cyril Hinshelwood
as Dr Lee's Professor of Chemistry, leading to him moving to Exeter College
. In 1969, he become Warden
of Merton College
. He also held the post of Vice Chancellor of the University from 1977–81 and was Director of IBM
(UK) Ltd from 1978–83 and of the Leverhulme Trust
from 1984–93. He was President of the Royal Society of Chemistry
for two years and the Royal Society
awarded him the Davy Medal
in 1976 and the Royal Medal
in 1986. He was knighted in 1977.
Sir Rex Richards has chaired numerous committees concerned with higher education, including an independent enquiry to investigate factors which might deter young doctors and dentists from choosing clinical academic careers. He was also Chancellor
of the University of Exeter
, from 1982 to October 1998. A painted portrait of Sir Rex Richards, by Allan Ramsay, hangs in the Senate and Council Chamber, Northcote House, University of Exeter
, and another by Bryan Organ
in Merton College, Oxford
.
Rex Richards also has an interest in the art world: he was a member of the National Gallery
Scientific Advisory Committee from 1978 to 2007, and Chairman from 1991–1993. He was Trustee of the Tate Gallery
1982-1988 and 1989–1993, of the National Gallery 1982–1988 and 1989–1993 and of the Henry Moore Foundation
1989–2002, Chairman 1994–2001. He was also Chairman of the British Postgraduate Medical Foundation 1986–1993.
His research work in the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
at Oxford was primarily concerned with Nuclear magnetic resonance
. His early work, leading to the award of a D. Phil. in 1948 was on infrared spectroscopy
, supervised by Harold Warris Thompson
.
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
, FBA (born 28 October 1922) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
scientist and academic. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and a director of the Leverhulme Trust
Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the will of the First Viscount Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, with the instruction that its resources should be used to support "scholarships for the purposes of research and education."...
.
Richards completed his secondary schooling at Colyton Grammar School
Colyton Grammar School
Colyton Grammar School is a co-educational grammar school located in the village of Colyford in East Devon and teaches students from years 7 to 13 ....
then proceeded on to St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
. After graduating with a first in 1945 and then obtaining a DPhil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in 1948, Richards stayed at the University as a Fellow in Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at Lincoln College
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
from 1947–64. In 1964 he succeeded Sir Cyril Hinshelwood
Cyril Norman Hinshelwood
Sir Cyril Norman Hinshelwood OM PRS was an English physical chemist.Born in London, his parents were Norman Macmillan Hinshelwood, a chartered accountant, and Ethe Frances née Smith. He was educated first in Canada, returning in 1905 on the death of his father to a small flat in Chelsea where he...
as Dr Lee's Professor of Chemistry, leading to him moving to Exeter College
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
. In 1969, he become Warden
Warden (college)
A warden is the head of some colleges and other educational institutions. This applies especially at some colleges and institutions at the University of Oxford:* All Souls College* Greyfriars* Keble College* Merton College* New College* Nuffield College...
of Merton College
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
. He also held the post of Vice Chancellor of the University from 1977–81 and was Director of IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
(UK) Ltd from 1978–83 and of the Leverhulme Trust
Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the will of the First Viscount Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, with the instruction that its resources should be used to support "scholarships for the purposes of research and education."...
from 1984–93. He was President of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Royal Society of Chemistry
The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...
for two years and 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"...
awarded him the Davy Medal
Davy Medal
The Davy Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of London "for an outstandingly important recent discovery in any branch of chemistry". Named after Humphry Davy, the medal is awarded with a gift of £1000. The medal was first awarded in 1877 to Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and Gustav Robert Kirchhoff "for...
in 1976 and the Royal Medal
Royal Medal
The Royal Medal, also known as The Queen's Medal, is a silver-gilt medal awarded each year by the Royal Society, two for "the most important contributions to the advancement of natural knowledge" and one for "distinguished contributions in the applied sciences" made within the Commonwealth of...
in 1986. He was knighted in 1977.
Sir Rex Richards has chaired numerous committees concerned with higher education, including an independent enquiry to investigate factors which might deter young doctors and dentists from choosing clinical academic careers. He was also Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, from 1982 to October 1998. A painted portrait of Sir Rex Richards, by Allan Ramsay, hangs in the Senate and Council Chamber, Northcote House, University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, and another by Bryan Organ
Bryan Organ
Bryan Organ is an English painter.He is mainly known for his work in portraiture, and has painted likenesses of many public figures. He is represented at the National Portrait Gallery, in London....
in Merton College, Oxford
Merton College, Oxford
Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...
.
Rex Richards also has an interest in the art world: he was a member of the National Gallery
National gallery
The National Gallery is an art gallery on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom.National Gallery may also refer to:*Armenia: National Gallery of Armenia, Yerevan*Australia:**National Gallery of Australia, Canberra...
Scientific Advisory Committee from 1978 to 2007, and Chairman from 1991–1993. He was Trustee of the Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
1982-1988 and 1989–1993, of the National Gallery 1982–1988 and 1989–1993 and of the Henry Moore Foundation
Henry Moore Foundation
The Henry Moore Foundation is a registered charity in England, established for education and promotion of the fine arts — in particular, to advance understanding of the works of Henry Moore. The charity was set up with a gift from the artist in 1977...
1989–2002, Chairman 1994–2001. He was also Chairman of the British Postgraduate Medical Foundation 1986–1993.
His research work in the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory
The Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory is a major chemistry laboratory at the University of Oxford, England. It is located in main Science Area of the University on South Parks Road...
at Oxford was primarily concerned with Nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance
Nuclear magnetic resonance is a physical phenomenon in which magnetic nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation...
. His early work, leading to the award of a D. Phil. in 1948 was on infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy
Infrared spectroscopy is the spectroscopy that deals with the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, that is light with a longer wavelength and lower frequency than visible light. It covers a range of techniques, mostly based on absorption spectroscopy. As with all spectroscopic...
, supervised by Harold Warris Thompson
Harold Warris Thompson
Sir Harold Warris Thompson was an English physical chemist.He was born in Wombwell, Yorkshire, the son of William Thompson, a colliery executive, and Charlotte Emily. He was educated at King Edward VII School in Sheffield, then at Trinity College, Oxford, where he was tutored by Cyril Norman...
.