Solly Zuckerman
Encyclopedia
Solly Zuckerman, Baron Zuckerman, OM
, KCB, FRS (30 May 1904 - 1 April 1993) was a British
public servant, zoologist, and scientific advisor who is best remembered as an advisor to the Allies on bombing strategy in World War II, for his work to advance the cause of nuclear non-proliferation, and for his role in bringing attention to global economic issues.
, South Africa
on 30 May 1904, the second child and eldest son of Moses and Rebecca Zuckerman (née Glaser), both children of Jewish immigrants. He was educated at the South African College School. After studying medicine at the University of Cape Town
, and later attending Yale University
, he came to London in 1926 to complete his studies at University College Hospital Medical School
. He began his career at the London Zoological Society in 1928, and worked as a research anatomist until 1932. He taught at Oxford University from 1934-1945, during which time he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
) and measuring the effect of bombing on people and buildings and an assessment of the bombardment (Operation Corkscrew
) of the Italian island of Pantellaria in 1943. He was given an honorary commission as a wing commander
in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force
on 13 May 1943, and promoted to honorary group captain
on 20 September 1943.
Zuckerman's suggestion, made when he was Scientific Director of the British Bombing Survey Unit (BBSU), and accepted by Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder and Supreme Allied Commander U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
in the lead-up to the Normandy landings, that the Allies concentrate on disrupting the German-controlled French transportation system through heavy aerial bombing
of rail lines and marshalling yards, was officially called the Transportation Plan, but was privately referred to by its opponents as "Zuckerman's Folly". A focus of Zuckerman's plan, learned in Italy, was to target locomotives and the capacity to service them due to a shortage in France prior to the Normandy Campaign. This had the effect of pushing rail heads back from the front causing trucks to be diverted from a role of maneuver to that of logistics, which resulted in greater gasoline consumption.
. He left the Royal Air Force on 1 September 1946, and was then professor of anatomy at Birmingham University from until 1968, chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence from 1960 to 1966, and chief scientific adviser
to the British government from 1964 to 1971. He was also a member of a Royal Commission
investigating environmental pollution from 26 February 1970. In 1951 Zuckerman published his paper summarizing the existing data both for and against the possibility of postnatal oogenesis.
He taught at the University of East Anglia
from 1969-74, where he was involved in setting up a school of environmental sciences. He served as secretary of the London Zoological Society from 1955-77 and as its President from 1977-84. Some of Zuckerman's achievements include becoming a pioneer in the study of primate behaviour. He is also credited for making science a normal part of government policy in the Western world. His more notable publications include The Social Life of Monkeys and Apes published in 1931, and Scientists and War in 1966. Zuckerman wrote two volumes of autobiography: From Apes to Warlords and Monkeys Men and Missiles.
Zuckerman was knighted
in the 1956 New Year Honours, promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1964 New Year Honours, appointed to the Order of Merit
on 23 April 1968, and was awarded a life peerage on 5 April 1971, taking the title, Baron Zuckerman, of Burnham Thorpe
in the County of Norfolk
.
in Oxford
. They married in 1939, and had two children, a son, Paul, and a daughter, Stella. Stella Zuckerman died in 1992, predeceasing her parents. Lady Zuckerman died in 2000.
describes Zuckerman in this way, in a letter written to his wife Joan in 1993, shortly after Zuckerman died in London following a heart attack, aged 88:
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
, KCB, FRS (30 May 1904 - 1 April 1993) was 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...
public servant, zoologist, and scientific advisor who is best remembered as an advisor to the Allies on bombing strategy in World War II, for his work to advance the cause of nuclear non-proliferation, and for his role in bringing attention to global economic issues.
Early life and education
Solomon Zuckerman was born in Cape TownCape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on 30 May 1904, the second child and eldest son of Moses and Rebecca Zuckerman (née Glaser), both children of Jewish immigrants. He was educated at the South African College School. After studying medicine at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, and later attending Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, he came to London in 1926 to complete his studies at University College Hospital Medical School
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
. He began his career at the London Zoological Society in 1928, and worked as a research anatomist until 1932. He taught at Oxford University from 1934-1945, during which time he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
World War II
During World War II, Zuckerman worked on several research projects for the British government, including the design of a civilian defence helmet (colloquially known as the Zuckerman helmetZuckerman helmet
The Zuckerman helmet was a British helmet designed for use by civil defence organisations and the general public during World War II...
) and measuring the effect of bombing on people and buildings and an assessment of the bombardment (Operation Corkscrew
Operation Corkscrew
During World War II, Operation Corkscrew was the Allied invasion of the Italian island of Pantelleria on 10 June 1943. There had been an early plan to occupy the island in late 1940 , but this was aborted when the Luftwaffe strengthened the Axis air threat in the region.The Allied focus returned...
) of the Italian island of Pantellaria in 1943. He was given an honorary commission as a wing commander
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
on 13 May 1943, and promoted to honorary group captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
on 20 September 1943.
Zuckerman's suggestion, made when he was Scientific Director of the British Bombing Survey Unit (BBSU), and accepted by Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder and Supreme Allied Commander U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
in the lead-up to the Normandy landings, that the Allies concentrate on disrupting the German-controlled French transportation system through heavy aerial bombing
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
of rail lines and marshalling yards, was officially called the Transportation Plan, but was privately referred to by its opponents as "Zuckerman's Folly". A focus of Zuckerman's plan, learned in Italy, was to target locomotives and the capacity to service them due to a shortage in France prior to the Normandy Campaign. This had the effect of pushing rail heads back from the front causing trucks to be diverted from a role of maneuver to that of logistics, which resulted in greater gasoline consumption.
Later career
After the war, Zuckerman was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1946 New Year HonoursNew Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
. He left the Royal Air Force on 1 September 1946, and was then professor of anatomy at Birmingham University from until 1968, chief scientific adviser to the Ministry of Defence from 1960 to 1966, and chief scientific adviser
Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government
The UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser is the personal adviser on science and technology-related activities and policies to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet; and head of the Government Office for Science....
to the British government from 1964 to 1971. He was also a member of a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
investigating environmental pollution from 26 February 1970. In 1951 Zuckerman published his paper summarizing the existing data both for and against the possibility of postnatal oogenesis.
He taught at the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
from 1969-74, where he was involved in setting up a school of environmental sciences. He served as secretary of the London Zoological Society from 1955-77 and as its President from 1977-84. Some of Zuckerman's achievements include becoming a pioneer in the study of primate behaviour. He is also credited for making science a normal part of government policy in the Western world. His more notable publications include The Social Life of Monkeys and Apes published in 1931, and Scientists and War in 1966. Zuckerman wrote two volumes of autobiography: From Apes to Warlords and Monkeys Men and Missiles.
Zuckerman was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 1956 New Year Honours, promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1964 New Year Honours, appointed to the Order of Merit
Order of Merit
The Order of Merit is a British dynastic order recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or for the promotion of culture...
on 23 April 1968, and was awarded a life peerage on 5 April 1971, taking the title, Baron Zuckerman, of Burnham Thorpe
Burnham Thorpe
Burnham Thorpe is a small village and civil parish on the River Burn and near the coast of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. It is famous for being the birthplace of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson, victor at the Battle of Trafalgar and one of Britain's greatest heroes...
in the County of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
Family life
He met his future wife, Lady Joan Rufus Isaacs, daughter of the 2nd Marquess of ReadingGerald Isaacs, 2nd Marquess of Reading
Gerald Rufus Isaacs, 2nd Marquess of Reading GCMG, CBE, MC, TD, PC, QC , styled Viscount Erleigh from 1917 to 1935, was a British barrister and Conservative politician.-Background and education:...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
. They married in 1939, and had two children, a son, Paul, and a daughter, Stella. Stella Zuckerman died in 1992, predeceasing her parents. Lady Zuckerman died in 2000.
Martha Gellhorn
Martha Gellhorn was an American novelist, travel writer and journalist, considered by The London Daily Telegraph amongst others to be one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century. She reported on virtually every major world conflict that took place during her 60-year career...
describes Zuckerman in this way, in a letter written to his wife Joan in 1993, shortly after Zuckerman died in London following a heart attack, aged 88: