Sir (Reginald) Patrick Linstead CBE, DSc, HonDSc, DIC, HonFCGI, HonMIMM, FRS (28 August 1902, in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

– 22 September 1966, in London) was an English

chemist A chemist (from Greek ''chēm(ía)'' alchemy; replacing ''chymist'' from Medieval Latin ''alchemist'') is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties. Chemists carefully describe ...

Biography

Patrick Linstead was born on 28 August 1902 in

Southgate, London Southgate is a suburban area of North London, England in the London Borough of Enfield. It is located around north of Charing Cross. The name is derived from being the south gate to Enfield Chase. History Southgate was originally the ''South ...

, the second son of Edward Flatman Linstead, advertising manager for Burroughs Wellcome, and Florence Evelyn, née Hester. After primary education in Southgate, Linstead attended the

City of London School , established = , closed = , type = Public school Boys' independent day school , president = , head_label = Headmaster , head = Alan Bird , chair_label = Chair of Governors , chair = Ian Seaton , founder = John Carpenter , special ...

from the age of 11 to 17, where the science master, George H J Adlam, was a considerable influence. He joined Imperial College in 1920 and graduated three years later with first class honours, before continuing to a PhD in Sir Jocelyn Thorpe’s group. In 1929 Linstead was appointed as a demonstrator at Imperial, and later lecturer. In the following ten years he was awarded a DSc and three medals, and also married Aileen E E R Abbott. In 1938 he was appointed Professor Chemistry at the

University of Sheffield The University of Sheffield (informally Sheffield University or TUOS) is a public university, public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Its history traces back to the foundation of Sheffield Medical School in 1828, Firth C ...

, but the following year his wife died at the age of 37, giving birth to their first child, Hilary. She married Leon Max Stemler of

Newcastle, New South Wales Newcastle ( ; Awabakal: ) is a metropolitan area and the second most populated city in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It includes the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas, and is the hub of the Greater Newcastle ar ...

at Holy Trinity Church, South Kensington in 1962, and moved to Australia with her husband. In their obituary of Linstead, Barton, Rydon and Elvidge wrote that “Linstead’s professional life divides itself conveniently into found periods”, which they go on to describe in detail: :The First Period at Imperial College, 1920-1938
The Years in Between, 1938-1949
The Second Period at Imperial College, 1949-1954
The Years as Rector, 1955-1966 ''Linstead Hall'' at Imperial College is named in his honour. He was made a Fellow of the

Royal Society The Royal Society, formally The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is a learned society and the United Kingdom's national academy of sciences. The society fulfils a number of roles: promoting science and its benefits, r ...

in 1940. He was also a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(CBE) and was knighted in 1959. Patrick Linstead can be heard in a speech at the Mansion House dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of the College in 1957. His second marriage was in Aberdare on 11 July 1942, to Marjorie Walters, a DPhil from Somerville College, Oxford. They had no children. Lady Linstead died at their Blockley home in Gloucestershire on 2 November 1987. They also had one at 170 Queens Gate, SW7, a short walk from Imperial College. Sir Patrick Linstead died on 22 September 1966 at

St George’s Hospital St George's Hospital is a large teaching hospital in Tooting, London. Founded in 1733, it is one of the UK's largest teaching hospitals and one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is run by the St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation ...

, which was then on the site of the present Lanesborough Hotel at

Hyde Park Corner Hyde Park Corner is between Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Mayfair in London, England. It primarily refers to its major road junction at the southeastern corner of Hyde Park, that was designed by Decimus Burton. Six streets converge at the j ...

. A memorial service was held on 25 October at Holy Trinity Brompton.

References

External links

Sir Patrick Linstead — video and podcast archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linstead, Patrick 1902 births 1966 deaths People educated at the City of London School Alumni of Imperial College London English chemists Academics of the University of Sheffield Harvard University faculty Rectors of Imperial College London Fellows of the Royal Society Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor