Le Fèvre, Raymond James Wood (1905 - 1986)

Summary

Raymond Le Fèvre was Professor of Chemistry, University of Sydney 1946-1970, and Head of the School of Chemistry 1948-1970. Earlier he was Lecturer then Reader in Organic Chemistry, University College London. His research focused on diazo-compounds, isometric forms, kinetics of isomerisations in solution, molecular structure and geometry using dipole moments, and the Kerr effect; his collaborator in this was his wife Catherine Gunn Le Fèvre. The Le Fèvre Memorial Prize for distinguished basic research by a young scientist in chemistry, particularly physical chemistry, was established by the Australian Academy of Science in 1989.

Details

Chronology

1925

Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), East London College, University of London

1927

Education - Master of Science (MSc), East London College, University of London

1928 - 1938

Career position - Lecturer in organic chemistry, University College London

1935

Education - Doctor of Science (DSc), East London College, University of London

1938 - 1939

Career position - Reader in organic chemistry, University College, London

1940 - 1945

Career position - Directorate of Scientific Research, Air Ministry, United Kingdom

1945 - 1946

Career position - Head of Chemistry Department, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough

1946 - 1953

Award - Fellow. Australian Chemical Institute

1946 - 1970

Career position - Professor of Chemistry, University of Sydney

1946 - 1975

Career position - Trustee, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney

1947 - 1948

Career position - Trustee, Mitchell Library, Sydney

1948 - 1951

Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of New South Wales

1948 - 1970

Career position - Head, School of Chemistry, University of Sydney

1952

Award - H. G. Smith Memorial Medal, Royal Australian Chemical Institute

1953

Award - Coronation Medal

1953 - 1986

Award - Fellow, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI)

1953 - 1986

Award - Petitioner for the Academy, Founding Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)

1955

Career position - President, Section B, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science

1959 - 1986

Award - Fellow, The Royal Society, London (FRS)

1959 - 1986

Award - Fellow, Royal Institute of Chemistry

1960

Award - Archibald Liversidge Medal, Royal Society of New South Wales

1961

Career position - President, Royal Society of New South Wales

1961 - 1974

Career position - Member of Council, Royal Society of New South Wales

1967

Award - Masson Lecturer, Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science

1969

Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Medal

1971 - 1986

Career position - Professorial Fellow, Macquarie University

1985

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

1989

Award - R. J. W. Le Fèvre Memorial Prize established by the Australian Academy of Science

Related entries

Archival resources

National Archives of Australia, Sydney Office

• Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre - Records, c. 1940 - c. 1945, CRS M1744; National Archives of Australia, Sydney Office. Details
• Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre - Records, CRS M1745; National Archives of Australia, Sydney Office. Details
• Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre - Records, CRS M1932; National Archives of Australia, Sydney Office. Details

University of Sydney, Archives

• Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre - Records, 1926 - 1986, P 157; University of Sydney, Archives. Details

Published resources

Book Sections

• Holland, H. G., 'Le Fèvre, Raymond James Wood (1905-1896), Professor of Chemistry' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 18: 1981 - 1990 L-Z, Melanie Nolan, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 2012), pp. 19-20. http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/le-fevre-raymond-james-14149. Details
• Le Fevre, R.J.W., 'The Establishment of Chemistry within Australian Science' in A Century of Scientific Progress (Sydney: Royal Society of New South Wales, 1961). Details

Journal Articles

• Aroney, M. J.; and Buckingham, A. D., 'Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre 1 April 1905 - 26 August 1986, elected F.R.S. 1959', Biographical memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society, 34 (1988), 375-403, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1988.0014. Details
• Aroney, M. J.; Buckingham, A. D., 'Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre 1905-1986', Historical Records of Australian Science, 7 (3) (1988), 273-297. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9880730273. Details
• Le Fevre, R. J. W., 'Albert Ernest Alexander', Records of the Australian Academy of Science, 2 (2) (1972), 61-81. http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/HR9720220061.htm. Details
• Le Fevre, R.J.W., 'John Smith, First Professor of Chemistry in Australia', The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Proceedings, 26 (1959), 348-353. Details

Resources

• Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society [Online resource], Royal Society of London, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbm.1988.0014. Details
• Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21165360. Details
• VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/232237114. Details
• 'Le Fèvre, Raymond James (19050401-19860826)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1474251. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Primary description of person CP 360; Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CP%20360. Details
• Aroney, M.J.; and Buckingham, A.D., 'Raymond James Wood Le Fèvre 1905-1986', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/raymond-james-wood-le-fevre-1905-1986. Details

See also

• Le Fèvre Medal, Australian Academy of Science, 2022. https://www.science.org.au/supporting-science/awards-and-opportunities/le-fevre-medal. Details