Person
Alexander, Albert Ernest (1914 - 1970)
FAA
- Born
- 5 January 1914
Ringwood, Southampton, Hampshire, England - Died
- 23 May 1970
Mosman, New South Wales, Australia - Occupation
- Chemist
Summary
Albert Alexander, who was born and educated in England, was appointed to the Chair of Applied Chemistry, New South Wales University of Technology in 1949. He later moved to the University of Sydney to be Professor of Physical Chemistry 1956-1970.
Details
After achieving first class honours in his science degree, Albert Alexander was awarded an open scholarship to study at King's College, Cambridge. There he completed his PhD in 1938, receiving a King's College senior scholarship and a Ramsay memorial fellowship for postdoctoral research. This was done under the guidance of Professor Rideal at the College's Department of Colloid Science, where Alexander later became Assistant Director. In 1949 he moved to Australia to become foundation chair of applied chemistry at the New South Wales University of Technology. By 1956 Alexander had lost faith in the University and moved to the University of Sydney and was appointed Professor of Physical Chemistry - a position he held until his death in 1970. Alexander has produced over 140 scientific papers.
Chronology
- 1934
- Education - Bachelor of Science (BSc), University of Reading, UK
- 1936
- Education - Bachelor of arts (BA), King's College, Cambridge, UK
- 1938
- Education - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), King's College, Cambridge
- 1939
- Career position - Fellow, Institute of Medical Chemistry, University of Uppsala, Sweden
- 1939 - 1944
- Career position - Scientist in the Department of Colloid Science at King's College, Cambridge
- 17 May 1940
- Life event - Married Catherine Robson in Cambridge
- 1944 - 1949
- Career position - Assistant Director of Research of the Department of Colloid Science at King's College, Cambridge
- 1947
- Career position - Tilden lectureship, Chemical Society of London
- 1949
- Career position - Colloid Science (written with Paley Johnson) published in Oxford
- 1949 - 1956
- Career position - Foundation Professor of Applied Chemistry, New South Wales University of Technology
- c. 1950
- Career position - Dean of the Faculty of Science at New South Wales University of Technology / University of New South Wales
- 1951
- Education - Doctor of Science (ScD), King's College, Cambridge
- 1955
- Career position - President, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, New South Wales branch
- 1956 - 1970
- Career position - Professor of Physical Chemistry, University of Sydney
- 1959 - 1964
- Career position - Member of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Advisory Council
- 1960 - 1970
- Award - Fellow, Australian Academy of Science (FAA)
- 1965
- Career position - Presented the A. D. Ross Lecture, University of Western Australia
- 11 December 1965
- Life event - Married Gisela Gudrum Baker, Presbyterian Church in Pymble
Related entries
Archival resources
University of Sydney, Archives
- Albert Ernest Alexander - Records, 1935 - 1971, P 150; University of Sydney, Archives. Details
Published resources
Book Sections
- Napper, D. H., 'Alexander, Albert Ernest (1914-1970), professor of chemistry' in Australian dictionary of biography, volume 13: 1940 - 1980 A-De, John Ritchie, ed. (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1993), pp. 23-24. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A130028b.htm. Details
Journal Articles
- 'Obituary: Albert Ernest Alexander, 1914-1970', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, 37 (8) (1970), 211. Details
- Alexander, A. E.; Hacobian, S.; Hayes, J. W., 'Obituary: Bruno Zdenko Breyer', Australian Journal of Science, 30 (8) (1968), 317-318. Details
- Hunter, R. J., 'Albert Ernest Alexander (1914-1970): Obituary', Search, 1 (3) (1970), 91. 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
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q21535209. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/65511870. Details
- 'Albert Alexander - Citation at year of election, 1960', Fellows of the Academy, Australian Academy of Science, 2019, https://www.science.org.au/profile/albert-alexander. Details
- 'Alexander, Albert Ernest (1914-1970)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1143795. Details
Resource Sections
- Le Fèvre, R. J. W., 'Albert Ernest Alexander 1914-1970', in Australian Academy of Science Biographical Memoirs, Australian Academy of Science, 2006, https://www.science.org.au/fellowship/fellows/biographical-memoirs/albert-ernest-alexander-1914-1970. Details
See also
- 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
Digital resources
McCarthy, G.J and Annette Alafaci
Created: 20 October 1993, Last modified: 14 December 2022
- Foundation Supporter - Committee to Review Australian Studies in Tertiary Education