Thomas Purdie

Prof Thomas Purdie FRS LLD (1843–1916) was a 19th/20th century Scottish chemist. The Thomas Purdie Collection at St Andrews University is named after him.[1]

The grave of Prof Thomas Purdie, St Andrews Cemetery east

Life

He was born in Biggar, South Lanarkshire on 27 January 1843 the eldest son of Thomas Purdie (1817-1886) and his wife Margaret Smith (1831-1916). The family spent seven years in South America during his youth. His father purchased Castlecliffe in St Andrews around 1870 and, following a conversation with Thomas Henry Huxley, Thomas decided to train as an industrial chemist.[2]

Around 1871 he joined the Royal School of Mines under Prof Frankland in London, then went to Wurzburg University in Germany where he received a doctorate (PhD) in Chemistry. He spent some time teaching Chemistry in South Kensington and then in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

In 1884 he became Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews University. His students included Alexander McKenzie.[3]

He retired in 1909 and died in St Andrews on 14 December 1916. He is buried with his parents in the eastern cemetery extension to St Andrews Cathedral churchyard. The grave lies against the main step in ground level, just below the upper terrace.

Family

He was married to Mary Anne (1843-1918).[4]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/specialcollections/collections/archives/themanuscriptcollections/personal/purdiethomas1843-1916/
  2. ↑ Nature (magazine) obituary of Thomas Purdie January 1917
  3. ↑ https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/38d3d61e-a124-3881-89db-61f7e0f66156
  4. ↑ Grave of Thomas Purdie, St Andrews Cemetery


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