Baxter, John Philip (1905 - 1989)

Summary

Sir Philip Baxter was Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales 1949-1953 and Vice-Chancellor 1955-1969. He was also Chairman of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission 1957-1972.

Details

Chronology

1925

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Birmingham

1926

Education - Master of Science (MSc), University of Birmingham

1928

Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Birmingham

1931 - 1944

Career position - Research Manager, General Chemicals Division, Imperial Chemical Industry

1944

Career event - Visiting scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee, United States of America

1944 - 1949

Career position - Director, Thorium Limited

1944 - 1949

Career position - Research Director, General Chemicals Division, Imperial Chemical Industry

1946

Award - Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) - Consultant of Atom Bomb Research, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research

1950

Award - Fellow (FRACI), Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1950

Life event - Moved to Sydney, Australia

1950 - 1952

Career position - Professor, Chemical Engineering, New South Wales University of Technology

1952

Career event - Member (MIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia

1952 - 1953

Career position - Deputy Director, New South Wales University of Technology

1953 - 1954

Career position - Director, New South Wales University of Technology

1954

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1955 - 1969

Career position - Vice-chancellor, University of New South Wales

1957 - 1972

Career position - Chairman, Australian Atomic Energy Commission

1959

Award - Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) - Chairman of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission

1965

Award - Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) - Chairman of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission

1965

Award - James N. Kirby award, Institution of Production Engineers

1966

Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Newcastle

1966

Award - Kernot Memorial Medal, for distinguished engineering achievement in Australia. Faculty of Engineering, University of Melbourne

1967

Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, University of Queensland

1967 - 1975

Career position - Chairman, Sydney Opera House Trust

1968

Career event - Fellow (FIEAust), Institution of Engineers Australia [Former Members were designated Fellows on this date.]

1975 - 1987

Award - Foundation Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences (FTS)

1987

Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (FTSE) [Foundation Fellow AATS 1975]

Related entries

Archival resources

National Library of Australia Oral History Collection

• John Philip Baxter - Records, 1949 - 1970, DeB 466; National Library of Australia Oral History Collection. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Gissing, Philip, 'Baxter, Sir John Philip (1905-1989), Chemical Engineer' in Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 17 (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2007), pp. 72-76. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/baxter-sir-john-philip-12185. Details

Journal Articles

• Angyal, S. J., 'Sir Philip Baxter 1905-1989', Historical Records of Australian Science, 8 (3) (1991), 183-197. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9910830183. Details

Resources

• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q7183190. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/94028952. Details
• 'Baxter, J P (1905-1989)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1183381. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DSc, 1966', Honorary degrees, University of Newcastle, 2023, https://www.newcastle.edu.au/engage/alumni/stories/honorary-degrees. Details
• 'Awarded honorary DSc, 1967 [Citation provided]', Honorary awards recipients, University of Queensland, 2023, https://alumni.uq.edu.au/awards/honorary-awards-previous-recipients. Details

Resource Sections

• Angyal, S.J., 'Sir Philip Baxter 1905-1989', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/john-philip-baxter-1905-1989. Details

Theses

• Gissing, Philip, 'Sir Philip Baxter, Engineer: the Fabric of a Conservative Style of Thought', PhD thesis, University of NSW, 1999. http://www.library.unsw.edu.au/~thesis/adt-NUN/uploads/approved/adt-NUN2000.0021/public/02whole.pdf. Details

See also

• Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Technology in Australia 1788-1988, Online edn, Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre, Melbourne, 3 May 2000, http://www.austehc.unimelb.edu.au/tia/index_b.html. Details
• Binnie, Anna, 'Oliphant, the Father of Atomic Energy', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 139 (2006), 11-22, https://royalsoc.org.au/images/pdf/journal/139_Binnie2.pdf. Details
• Fowler, Robert, 'Chapter 9: Chemical engineering' in Sydney: from settlement to city: an engineering history of Sydney, Don Fraser, ed. (Crows Nest, New South Wales: Engineers Australia, 1989), pp. 185-200. Details
• Newton, J. O., 'Ernest William Titterton 1916-1990', Historical Records of Australian Science, 9 (2) (1992), 167-187. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9920920167. Details