William Gregor
Encyclopedia
William Gregor was the British
clergyman and mineralogist who discovered the elemental metal titanium
.
in Cornwall
, the son of Francis Gregor and Mary Copley and the brother of Francis Gregor
, MP for Cornwall. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School
, where he became interested in chemistry
, then after two years with a private tutor entered St John's College, Cambridge
, graduating BA in 1784 and MA in 1787. He proceeded to the MA and was ordained in the Church of England
. He became vicar
of St Mary's Church Diptford
near Totnes
Devon
. He married Charlotte Anne Gwatkin in 1790 and they had one daughter.
After a brief interval at Bratton Clovelly
, William and his family moved permanently to the rectory
of Creed
in Cornwall
. Here, he began a remarkably accurate chemical analysis of Cornish mineral
s. In 1791, while studying ilmenite
from the Manaccan
valley, he isolated the calx
of an unknown metal which he named manaccanite. Later in 1791, Martin Heinrich Klaproth
discovered what is now known as titanium
in the mineral rutile
. Believing this to be a new discovery, Klaproth named it titanium after the Titans
of Greek Mythology
, but eventually it was clarified that Gregor made the discovery first. Gregor was credited with the discovery, but the element kept the name chosen by Klaproth. Gregor later found titanium in corundum
from Tibet
, and in a tourmaline
from a local tin mine. Titanium is now used for many things. Titanium is a transition metal with the atomic number of 22 atomic mass 47.867 .
in 1814. Never letting his scientific work interfere with his pastoral duties, he was also a distinguished landscape painter, etcher and musician. He died of tuberculosis
on 11 June 1817 and was buried in a nearby churchyard.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
clergyman and mineralogist who discovered the elemental metal titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
.
Early years
He was born at the Trewarthenick EstateTrewarthenick Estate
The Trewarthenick Estate is a Grade2 listed manor house and estate located in the hamlet of Trewarthenick, Cornwall, England.The Gregor family had owned land in Trewarthenick from 1640, and in circa 1686 commissioned a country house. With grounds remodelled by Humphry Repton in circa 1792, it was...
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, the son of Francis Gregor and Mary Copley and the brother of Francis Gregor
Francis Gregor (MP)
Francis Gregor was MP for the County of Cornwall from 1790 to 1806.-Life:He was born on 1 June 1760 in Trewarthenick, Cornwall, the son of Francis Gregor and Mary Copley. His brother was Rev. William Gregor, the noted mineralogist He was educated at Bristol Grammar School and St Johns College,...
, MP for Cornwall. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
, where he became interested 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....
, then after two years with a private tutor entered St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
, graduating BA in 1784 and MA in 1787. He proceeded to the MA and was ordained in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. He became vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of St Mary's Church Diptford
Diptford
Diptford is a village in the county of Devon, England. It is perched on a hill overlooking the River Avon. The name is believed to come from "deep ford", referring to the local site of a river crossing....
near Totnes
Totnes
Totnes is a market town and civil parish at the head of the estuary of the River Dart in Devon, England within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. He married Charlotte Anne Gwatkin in 1790 and they had one daughter.
Discovery of titanium
Bratton Clovelly
Bratton Clovelly is a village in west Devon, England.The church is 15th century, but with many attractive Norman features. The village stocks are kept in the belfry....
, William and his family moved permanently to the rectory
Rectory
A rectory is the residence, or former residence, of a rector, most often a Christian cleric, but in some cases an academic rector or other person with that title...
of Creed
Creed, Cornwall
Creed is a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated roughly midway between Truro and St Austell approximately two miles east of Probus....
in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. Here, he began a remarkably accurate chemical analysis of Cornish mineral
Mineral
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not...
s. In 1791, while studying ilmenite
Ilmenite
Ilmenite is a weakly magnetic titanium-iron oxide mineral which is iron-black or steel-gray. It is a crystalline iron titanium oxide . It crystallizes in the trigonal system, and it has the same crystal structure as corundum and hematite....
from the Manaccan
Manaccan
Manaccan is a civil parish and village on the Lizard peninsula in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles south-southwest of Falmouth....
valley, he isolated the calx
Calx
Calx is a residual substance, sometimes in the form of a fine powder, that is left when a metal or mineral combusts or is calcinated due to heat.Calx, especially of a metal, is now known as an oxide...
of an unknown metal which he named manaccanite. Later in 1791, Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Martin Heinrich Klaproth was a German chemist.Klaproth was born in Wernigerode. During a large portion of his life he followed the profession of an apothecary...
discovered what is now known as titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
in the mineral rutile
Rutile
Rutile is a mineral composed primarily of titanium dioxide, TiO2.Rutile is the most common natural form of TiO2. Two rarer polymorphs of TiO2 are known:...
. Believing this to be a new discovery, Klaproth named it titanium after the Titans
Titan (mythology)
In Greek mythology, the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia and Uranus, that ruled during the legendary Golden Age....
of Greek Mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, but eventually it was clarified that Gregor made the discovery first. Gregor was credited with the discovery, but the element kept the name chosen by Klaproth. Gregor later found titanium in corundum
Corundum
Corundum is a crystalline form of aluminium oxide with traces of iron, titanium and chromium. It is a rock-forming mineral. It is one of the naturally clear transparent materials, but can have different colors when impurities are present. Transparent specimens are used as gems, called ruby if red...
from Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, and in a tourmaline
Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a crystal boron silicate mineral compounded with elements such as aluminium, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, or potassium. Tourmaline is classified as a semi-precious stone and the gem comes in a wide variety of colors...
from a local tin mine. Titanium is now used for many things. Titanium is a transition metal with the atomic number of 22 atomic mass 47.867 .
Death and legacy
Gregor was an original member of the Royal Geological Society of CornwallRoyal Geological Society of Cornwall
The Royal Geological Society of Cornwall is a geological society based in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1814 to promote the study of the geology of Cornwall, and is the second oldest geological society in the world....
in 1814. Never letting his scientific work interfere with his pastoral duties, he was also a distinguished landscape painter, etcher and musician. He died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
on 11 June 1817 and was buried in a nearby churchyard.