Sir Richard Oswald Chandler Norman, (April 27, 1932 – June 6, 1993) was a British chemist.

Biography

Norman was born in Norbury, London. His father Oswald managed a bank in the area. Norman received his primary education at

St Paul's School, London St Paul's School is a Selective school, selective Private schools in the United Kingdom, independent day school (with limited boarding school, boarding) for boys aged 13–18, founded in 1509 by John Colet and located on a 43-acre site by Rive ...

. He graduated with a first in chemistry from

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...

in 1955, and the following year joined

Merton College, Oxford Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 126 ...

as a Junior Research Fellow, completing his DPhil in 1957. His doctoral thesis investigated using continuous flow mixing techniques to study rapid free radical reactions. He was elected as a Fellow of Merton College in 1958, lecturing, tutoring and building up a research team. In 1965 Norman moved to the

University of York The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...

to create a new chemistry department, where he gained a reputation for the study of organic reactions. In 1987 he returned to Oxford as Rector of Exeter College, Oxford, where he remained until his death. He married Jennifer Margaret Tope in 1982; they had no children. He died in Oxford in 1993; his body was cremated at Oxford.

Textbooks and Monographs

* ''Electrophilic Substitution in Benzenoid Compounds'' (with Roger Taylor) (published 1964) * ''Principles of Organic Synthesis'' (published 1968; 3rd ed. 1993, with James M. Coxon) * ''Modern Organic Chemistry'' (with David J. Waddington) (published 1972; 4th ed. 1983) *''Mechanisms in Organic Chemistry: Case Studies'' (with Michael J. Tomlinson and David J. Waddington, published 1978)

Recognitions, honours, awards

* President of the Royal Institute of Chemistry (1978–1980) * President of the

Royal Society of Chemistry The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is a learned society and professional association in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemistry, chemical sciences". It was formed in 1980 from the amalgamation of the Chemical Society, the ...

(1984–1986) * Elected a

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

(1977) * Appointed (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire) ( 1987 New Year Honours) * Named as

Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence The Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK's Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), Ministry of Defence is responsible for providing strategic management of science and technology issues in the MOD, most directly through the MOD research budget of well o ...

(1983–1988) * Meldola Medal and Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (1961) * Corday–Morgan Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry (1967)

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Norman, Richard Oswald Chandler 1932 births 1993 deaths People from Streatham Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford British chemists Fellows of the Royal Society Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Rectors of Exeter College, Oxford Presidents of the Royal Society of Chemistry Academics of the University of York Chief Scientific Advisers to the Ministry of Defence Scientists from London Fellows of Merton College, Oxford