Samuel Colville Lind (June 15, 1879 – February 12, 1965) was a

radiation In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or a material medium. This includes: * ''electromagnetic radiation'' consisting of photons, such as radio waves, microwaves, infr ...

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 ...

, referred to as "the father of modern radiation chemistry". He gained his B.A in 1899 at

Washington and Lee University Washington and Lee University (Washington and Lee or W&L) is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States. Established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, it is among ...

, Lexington, Virginia. After a short spell at MIT he moved to study chemistry at

Leipzig University Leipzig University (), in Leipzig in Saxony, Germany, is one of the world's oldest universities and the second-oldest university (by consecutive years of existence) in Germany. The university was founded on 2 December 1409 by Frederick I, Electo ...

in Germany, carrying out research into the kinetics of chemical reactions, where he was awarded a Ph.D in 1905. He then returned to work at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

until 1913, studying the chemical reactions induced by ionizing radiation. From 1913 to 1925 he worked at the

US Bureau of Mines The United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) was the primary Federal government of the United States, United States government agency in the 20th century that conducted scientific research and disseminated information on the extraction, processing ...

, concerned with extraction of radium from carnotite ore. He subsequently studied the chemical effects of radiation, including on diamonds, and was appointed Chief Chemist of the bureau in 1923. He continued the radiation studies at the Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture (1925–26) and the University of Minnesota (1926–1947) as head of its school of chemistry. In 1935 he was appointed as the first dean of the newly established College of Science and Engineering at Minnesota (known at the time as the Institute of Technology). Lind Hall is named for him on the Minneapolis East Bank campus. He spent his last few working years as acting director of the chemistry division at

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a federally funded research and development centers, federally funded research and development center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1943, the laboratory is sponsored by the United Sta ...

studying the radiation chemistry of gases. He was inducted a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 1927 and elected a member of the

United States National Academy of Sciences The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, 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 Nati ...

in 1930. He served as president of the American Electrochemical Society in 1927 and 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 ...

in 1940. In 1943, he was elected to the

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

in 1943. Among his awards was the Ira Remsen Award in 1947, and the Priestley Medal in 1952.

Private life

He married Marie Holladay of Omaha, Nebraska in 1915.

References

1879 births 1965 deaths People from McMinnville, Tennessee Washington and Lee University alumni Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Leipzig University alumni American chemists Fellows of the American Physical Society Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences University of Michigan faculty Presidents of the Electrochemical Society {{chemist-stub Members of the American Philosophical Society