Maurice Stacey CBE FRS FRIC (8 April 1907 – 9 October 1994) was a British

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a graduated scientist trained in the study of chemistry, or an officially enrolled student in the field. Chemists study the composition of ...

who worked alongside Sir

Norman Haworth Sir Walter Norman Haworth Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (19 March 1883 – 19 March 1950) was a British chemist best known for his groundbreaking work on ascorbic acid (vitamin C) while working at the University of Birmingham. He received th ...

to artificially synthesize

Vitamin C Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate) is a water-soluble vitamin found in citrus and other fruits, berries and vegetables. It is also a generic prescription medication and in some countries is sold as a non-prescription di ...

. Maurice Stacey was born on 8 April 1907 in Moreton,

Shropshire Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...

. Stacey was educated at Adams Grammar School, Newport and graduated from

Birmingham University The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...

with the degrees of BSc, PhD and DSc. Stacey began his career at Birmingham University as a demonstrator in chemistry in 1929. He was leader under Sir

of the Birmingham University team which synthesised

in 1932. It was Stacey who personally isolated synthetic vitamin C. Stacey was Beit Memorial Fellow for Medical Research at the London School of Tropical Medicine from 1933 to 1937. Stacey returned to Birmingham University in 1937 as lecturer in chemistry and then reader in biological chemistry. Stacey was professor of chemistry at Birmingham University from 1946 to 1956. He was Mason Professor and head of the Department of Chemistry at Birmingham from 1956 until his retirement in 1974. He was dean of Faculty of Science at Birmingham from 1963 to 1966. Stacey's main research interest was in

polysaccharides Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long-chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with wat ...

. He helped to develop bacterial polyglucose dextran as a

blood plasma Blood plasma is a light Amber (color), amber-colored liquid component of blood in which blood cells are absent, but which contains Blood protein, proteins and other constituents of whole blood in Suspension (chemistry), suspension. It makes up ...

substitute. Stacey was awarded the Meldola Medal of the Royal Institute of Chemistry (now 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 ...

) in 1933. He was 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 ...

in 1950. He was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

in 1966 Stacy was vice-president of the

Chemical Society The Chemical Society was a scientific society formed in 1841 (then named the Chemical Society of London) by 77 scientists as a result of increased interest in scientific matters. Chemist Robert Warington was the driving force behind its creation. ...

(now the Royal Society of Chemistry) for the years 1950 to 1953, 1955 to 1958, 1960 to 1963, and 1968 to 1971. Stacey was awarded the Tilden Medal by the Chemical Society in 1944. He was awarded the Inaugural Haworth Medal in 1970. He was awarded the Centenary Medal by Birmingham University in 1975 and the Jubilee Memorial Medal by the

Society of Chemical Industry The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) is a learned society set up in 1881 "to further the application of chemistry and related sciences for the public benefit". Offices The society's headquarters is in Belgrave Square, London. There are semi-in ...

in 1979. He received the Grand Award from the US

National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...

and the

John Scott Medal John Scott Award, created in 1816 as the John Scott Legacy Medal and Premium, is presented to men and women whose inventions improved the "comfort, welfare, and happiness of human kind" in a significant way. "...the John Scott Medal Fund, establish ...

by the City of Philadelphia. He was awarded honorary doctorates by

Keele University Keele University is a Public university#United Kingdom, public research university in Keele, approximately from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as the University College of North Staffordshire, it was granted uni ...

, the University of Lima and the

National University of San Marcos The National University of San Marcos (, UNMSM) is a public university, public research university located in Lima, the capital of Peru. In the Americas, it is the first officially established (Privilege (legal ethics), privilege by Charles V, ...

. Stacey died on 9 October 1994 in Birmingham.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stacey, Maurice 1907 births 1994 deaths Alumni of the University of Birmingham Academics of the University of Birmingham Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Fellows of the Royal Society British chemists