James Flack Norris
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

James Flack Norris (January 20, 1871 – August 3, 1940) was an American chemist.


Biography

Born in
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
, to a Methodist minister, Norris was educated in Baltimore and
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, where he graduated from Central High School in 1887. He then attended
Johns Hopkins University The Johns Hopkins University (often abbreviated as Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1876 based on the European research institution model, J ...
, where he graduated with an A.B. in chemistry. After graduating in 1892, Norris remained at the university to work as a fellow until 1895, when he was awarded his Ph.D. and became an academic at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a Private university, private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Established in 1861, MIT has played a significant role in the development of many areas of moder ...
(MIT). He left MIT in 1904 to become the first professor of chemistry at the newly formed Simmons College. In 1915, Norris became a professor of chemistry at
Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...
before returning to MIT in 1916 to take up the position of professor of organic chemistry and, after its creation in 1926, the first director of MIT's Research Laboratory of Organic Chemistry. During
World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, Norris served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service and commanded their operations in England. He headed war gas attack investigations and offensive chemical research. After the armistice, he led investigation of war gas manufacturing in German chemical plants until his release from active duty in 1919. In 1906, Norris was named a fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is a United States–based international nonprofit with the stated mission of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsib ...
. In 1907, he was elected to the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (The Academy) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and other ...
. In 1929, Norris was conferred an honorary Sc.D. degree by
Bowdoin College Bowdoin College ( ) is a Private college, private liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine. It was chartered in 1794. The main Bowdoin campus is located near Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River. In a ...
. In 1937, he received the
American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal The American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal is the highest award of the American Institute of Chemists and has been awarded since 1926. It is presented annually to a person who has most encouraged the science of chemistry or the profession of ...
. Outside of his work as an academic, Norris served as president of the
American Chemical Society The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a scientific society based in the United States that supports scientific inquiry in the field of chemistry. Founded in 1876 at New York University, the ACS currently has more than 155,000 members at all ...
from 1925 to 1926 and as vice-president of the
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC ) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations working for the advancement of the chemical sciences, especially by developing nomenclature and terminology. It is ...
(IUPAC) from 1925 to 1928.


Legacy

The James Flack Norris Award is named in his honour.


Personal

Norris was the son of Rev. Richard Norris and Sarah Amanda (Baker) Norris. He had four older and four younger siblings. On February 4, 1902, Norris married Anne Bent Chamberlin. They did not have any children. Norris died in the Phillips House at
Massachusetts General Hospital Massachusetts General Hospital (Mass General or MGH) is a teaching hospital located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It is the original and largest clinical education and research facility of Harvard Medical School/Harvar ...
in Boston late in the evening of August 3, 1940. He was interred at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.


References


Bibliography

*


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Norris, James Flack 1871 births 1940 deaths Scientists from Baltimore Johns Hopkins University alumni American chemists Simmons University faculty Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Vanderbilt University faculty Massachusetts Institute of Technology faculty United States Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from Massachusetts United States Army officers Presidents of the American Chemical Society Burials at Mount Auburn Cemetery