Bernard Mouat Jones
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bernard Mouat Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 November 1882 |
| Died | 11 September 1953 (aged 70) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Chemist |
Bernard Mouat Jones DSO (27 November 1882 – 11 September 1953)[1] was a British Chemist, notable for identifying the chemical in Mustard gas (dicholorodiethyl sulphide) and the first scientist to be Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds.
Jones was born in Streatham, London on 27 November 1882, the fourth son of Alexander Moat Jones, a wine merchant, and Martha Eleanor (née Brinjes). He attended Queen's College, Streatham and Dulwich College. In 1901 he went up to Balliol College, Oxford where, three years later, he gained a first-class honours degree in chemistry, mineralogy, and crystallography.
Early academic career
Jones worked for a year as research assistant to Professor W R Dunstan at the Imperial Institute, and was then, in 1906, appointed professor of chemistry at Government College, Lahore. In 1913 he returned to England as assistant professor at the Imperial College of Science and Technology.[2]
Military service
In 1914 Jones enlisted in the London Scottish regiment and was sent to France. Immediately after the first German gas attack in 1915 he was promoted to captain and became assistant director of the central laboratory, general headquarters, formed to organize defensive measures. He devised methods of protection from phosgene gas and of identifying quickly any new gas used by the enemy. He was the first to identify the chemical in mustard gas.
For his services he received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 1917. In 1918 he became director of the laboratory with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
