Person
Robinson, Robert (1886 - 1975)
OAM Kt
- Born
- 13 September 1886
Rufford, Chesterfield, England - Died
- 8 February 1975
Great Missenden, England - Occupation
- Nobel laureate and Organic chemist
Summary
Sir Robert Robinson was Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University from 1930-1955 and spent 3 years at the University of Sydney (1913-1915) as Professor of Organic Chemistry (Pure and Applied). He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1947 for his investigations on plant products of biological importance, especially the alkaloids. Robinson has received many other honours including a knighthood in 1939, the Commandeur de la Légion d'Honneur and Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd class (Japan).
Details
Chronology
- 1913 - 1915
- Career position - Professor of Organic Chemistry (Pure and Applied), University of Sydney
- 1916
- Career position - Heath Harrison Professor of Organic Chemistry in Liverpool, UK
- 1920
- Career position - Director of Research at the British Dyestuffs Corporation Ltd
- 1921
- Career position - Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews, UK
- 1922 - 1928
- Career position - Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Manchester, UK
- 1928 - 1930
- Career position - Professor of Organic Chemistry at University College, London
- 1929
- Award - Bakerian Lecturer, The Royal Society, London
- 1930
- Award - Davy Medal, The Royal Society, London
- 1930
- Award - Longstaff Medallist of the Chemical Society
- 1930 - 1955
- Career position - Wayneflete Professor of Chemistry, University of Oxford
- 1932
- Award - Royal Medal, The Royal Society, London
- 1939
- Award - Knight Bachelor (Kt)
- 1939
- Award - Paracelsus Medal, Swiss Chemical Society
- 1939 - 1941
- Career position - President, Chemical Society
- 1942
- Award - Copley Medal, The Royal Society, London
- 1945 - 1950
- Career position - President, The Royal Society, London
- 1947
- Award - Franklin Medal, Franklin Institute, Philadelphia
- 1947
- Award - Albert Gold Medal, Royal Society of Arts
- 1947
- Award - Nobel Prize in Chemistry - for his investigations on plant products of biological importance, especially the alkaloids
- 1953
- Award - Priestley Medal, American Chemical Society
- 1955
- Career position - President, British Association for the Advancement of Science
- 1957
- Award - Hofmann Medal, German Chemical Society
- 1958 - 1959
- Career position - President, Society of Chemical Industry
- 1960
- Award - Flintoff Medal, Chemical Society
Related entries
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Birch, A. J., 'Sir Robert Robinson: a contemporary historical assessment and a personal memoir', Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, 109 (3/4) (1976), 151-160, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/48074483. Details
- Birch, Arthur J., 'Investigating a Scientific Legend: the Tropinone Synthesis of Sir Robert Robinson, FRS', Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, 47 (1993), 277-296. Details
Resources
- Wikidata, http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q49351. Details
- VIAF - Virtual International Authority File, OCLC, https://viaf.org/viaf/67265095. Details
- 'Robinson, Robert (1886-1975)', Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-959587. Details
Resource Sections
- 'The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1947 'for his investigations on plant products of biological importance, especially the alkaloids'', in Nobel e-Museum, 1996, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1947/robinson/. Details
- 'Sir Robert Robinson - Biography', in Nobel e-Museum, 1996, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1947/robinson/biographical/. 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
- Stephens, C.G.; and Quirk, J.P., 'James Arthur Prescott 1890-1987', Historical Records of Australian Science, 7 (3) (1988), 299-313. https://doi.org/10.1071/HR9880730299. Details
Rosanne Walker
Created: 30 June 1997, Last modified: 22 October 2025