Roscoe G. Dickinson
Encyclopedia
Roscoe Gilkey Dickinson (May 3, 1894 – July 13, 1945) was a U.S.
chemist
, known primarily for his work on X-ray crystallography
. As professor
of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech), he was the doctoral
advisor of Nobel laureate
Linus Pauling
and of Arnold O. Beckman
, inventor of the pH meter
.
Dickinson received his undergraduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and, in 1920, became the first person to receive a PhD
from Caltech (which had recently changed its name from Throop College). For his dissertation he had studied the crystal
structures of wulfenite
, scheelite
, sodium chlorate
, and sodium bromate
. His graduate advisor was Arthur Amos Noyes
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chemist
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....
, known primarily for his work on X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography
X-ray crystallography is a method of determining the arrangement of atoms within a crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a crystal and causes the beam of light to spread into many specific directions. From the angles and intensities of these diffracted beams, a crystallographer can produce a...
. As professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
(Caltech), he was the doctoral
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
advisor of Nobel laureate
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
and of Arnold O. Beckman
Arnold Orville Beckman
Arnold Orville Beckman was an American chemist who founded Beckman Instruments based on his 1934 invention of the pH meter, a device for measuring acidity. He also funded the first transistor company, thus giving rise to Silicon Valley.-Early life:Beckman was born in Cullom, Illinois, the son of...
, inventor of the pH meter
PH meter
A pH meter is an electronic instrument used for measuring the pH of a liquid...
.
Dickinson received his undergraduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and, in 1920, became the first person to receive a PhD
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...
from Caltech (which had recently changed its name from Throop College). For his dissertation he had studied the crystal
Crystal
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. The scientific study of crystals and crystal formation is known as crystallography...
structures of wulfenite
Wulfenite
Wulfenite is a lead molybdate mineral with the formula PbMoO4. It can be most often found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color, sometimes brown, although the color can be highly variable. In its yellow form it is sometimes called "yellow lead ore".It crystallizes...
, scheelite
Scheelite
Scheelite is a calcium tungstate mineral with the chemical formula CaWO4. It is an important ore of tungsten. Well-formed crystals are sought by collectors and are occasionally fashioned into gemstones when suitably free of flaws...
, sodium chlorate
Sodium chlorate
Sodium chlorate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . When pure, it is a white crystalline powder that is readily soluble in water. It is hygroscopic. It decomposes above 250 °C to release oxygen and leave sodium chloride...
, and sodium bromate
Sodium bromate
Sodium bromate, the inorganic compound with the chemical formula of NaBrO3, is the sodium salt of bromic acid. It is a strong oxidant, mainly used in continuous or batch dyeing processes involving sulfur or vat dyes and as a hair-permagent, chemical agent, or gold solvent in gold mines when used...
. His graduate advisor was Arthur Amos Noyes
Arthur Amos Noyes
Arthur Amos Noyes was a U.S. chemist and educator. He served as the acting president of MIT between 1907 and 1909. He received a PhD. in 1890 at Leipzig under the guidance of Wilhelm Ostwald. Roscoe Gilkey Dickinson was one of his famous students. Noyes served as Professor of Chemistry at the...
.
Scientific Ancestry
See also Chemistry genealogyChemistry genealogy
Chemistry genealogy is something of a hobby of chemists, using academic genealogy to trace their roots through their doctoral advisors in the same manner that one might trace a family tree...
- Sigismondo Polcastro (c. 1379–1473)
- Pietro Roccabonella (c. 1430-1491)
- Nicolo da LonigoNiccolò LeonicenoNiccolò Leoniceno , also known as Nicolo Leoniceno, Nicolaus Leoninus, Nicolaus Leonicenus of Vicenza, Nicolaus Leonicenus Vicentinus, Nicolo Lonigo, Nicolò da Lonigo da Vincenza, was an Italian physician and humanist....
(1428-1524) (MD 1453, Padua) - Antonio Musa BrassavolaAntonio Musa BrassavolaAntonio Musa Brassavola was an Italian physician and one of the most famous of his time. He studied under Niccolò Leoniceno and Manardi. He was the friend and physician of Ercolo II, the prince of Este...
(1500-1555) (MD 1520, Ferrara) - Gabriele FalloppioGabriele FalloppioGabriele Falloppio , often known by his Latin name Fallopius, was one of the most important anatomists and physicians of the sixteenth century....
(1523-1562) (MD 1548, Ferrara) - Girolamo Fabrici (1533-1619) (MD 1559, Padua)
- Adriaan van den SpiegelAdriaan van den SpiegelAdriaan van den Spiegel, name sometimes written as Adrianus Spigelius was a Flemish anatomist who was born in Brussels. For much of his career he practiced medicine in Padua, and is considered one of the great physicians associated with that city...
(1578-1625) (MD 1603, Padua) - Werner RolfinckWerner RolfinckWerner Rolfink was a German physician, scientist and botanist. He was a medical student in Leyden, Oxford, Paris and Padua. He earned his master's degree at the University of Wittenberg under Daniel Sennert, and his MD in 1625 at the University of Padua under the guidance of Adriaan van den Spiegel...
(1599-1673) (MD 1625, Padua) - Georg Wolfgang Wedel (1645-1721) (MD 1669, Jena)
- Johann Adolph Wedel (1675-1747) (MD 1697, Jena)
- Georg Erhardt Hamberger (1697-1755) (MD 1721, Jena)
- Christoph Andreas MangoldChristoph MangoldChristoph Andreas Mangold was a professor of anatomy, who also studied chemistry. He is known for his studies of gunpowder and cinnabar as well as the idea that medical diagnosis should be based upon symptoms, laboratory tests and comparisons with other patients. He was notably the advisor of Ernst...
(1719-1767) (MD 1751, Erfurt) - Ernst Gottfried BaldingerErnst Gottfried BaldingerErnst Gottfried Baldinger , German physician, was born near Erfurt.He studied medicine at Erfurt, Halle and Jena, earning his MD in 1760 under the guidance of Christoph Mangold and in 1761 was entrusted with the superintendence of the military hospitals connected with the Prussian encampment near...
(1738-1804) (MD 1760, Jena) - Johann Christian WieglebJohann Christian WieglebJohann Christian Wiegleb was a notable German druggist and early innovator of chemistry as a science.He was notably the teacher of Johann Friedrich August Gottling.-References:...
(1732-1800) (Apothecary 1765, Langensalza) - Johann Friedrich August GottlingJohann Friedrich August GottlingJohann Friedrich August Göttling was a notable German chemist. He received his Apothecary degree in 1775 at Langensalza under Johann Christian Wiegleb. Gottling developed and sold chemical assay kits and studied processes for extracting sugar from beets, to supplement his meagre university salary....
(1753-1809) (Apothecary 1775, Langensalza) - Karl Friedrich Wilhelm Gottlob KastnerKarl Wilhelm Gottlob KastnerKarl Wilhelm Gottlob Kastner was a German chemist and natural scientist.Kastner received his doctorate in 1805 under the guidance of Johann Gottling and began lecturing at the University of Jena. He moved on to the University of Heidelberg and became professor at the University of Halle in 1812. ...
(1783-1857) (PhD 1805, Jena) - Baron Justus von LiebigJustus von LiebigJustus von Liebig was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry, and worked on the organization of organic chemistry. As a professor, he devised the modern laboratory-oriented teaching method, and for such innovations, he is regarded as one of the...
(1803-1873) (PhD 1822, Erlangen) - Carl SchmidtCarl Schmidt (chemist)Carl Ernst Heinrich Schmidt , also known in Russia as Karl Genrikhovich Schmidt was a Livonian chemist. He determined the typical crystallization patterns of many important biochemicals such as uric acid, oxalic acid and its salts, lactic acid, cholesterin, stearin, etc. He analyzed muscle fiber...
(1822-1894) (PhD 1844, Giessen) - Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald (1855-1932) (PhD 1878, Dorpat)
- Arthur Amos NoyesArthur Amos NoyesArthur Amos Noyes was a U.S. chemist and educator. He served as the acting president of MIT between 1907 and 1909. He received a PhD. in 1890 at Leipzig under the guidance of Wilhelm Ostwald. Roscoe Gilkey Dickinson was one of his famous students. Noyes served as Professor of Chemistry at the...
(1866-1936) (PhD 1890, Leipzig) - Roscoe Gilkey Dickinson (1894-1945) (PhD 1920, Caltech)
- Linus Carl Pauling (1901-1994) (PhD 1925, Caltech)
External links
- Dickinson's Ph.D. thesis
- A collection of digitized materials related to Dickinson's and Linus PaulingLinus PaulingLinus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
's structural chemistry research.