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{{Short description|American chemist}}
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{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Robert W. Cairns
| name = Robert W. Cairns
| image = Robert W. Cairns, American chemist.jpg
⚫
|birth_date = {{birth date|1909|12|23}}
| image_size = 248px
⚫
|birth_place = [[Oberlin, Ohio]], United States
| caption = Hercules corporate portrait, circa 1950.
⚫
|death_date = {{death date and age|1985|01|27|1909|12|23}}
⚫
| birth_date = {{birth date|1909|12|23}}
⚫
|death_place = [[Wilmington, Delaware]], United States
⚫
| birth_place = [[Oberlin, Ohio]], United States
|residence = U.S.
⚫
| death_date = {{death date and age|1985|01|27|1909|12|23}}
⚫
|nationality = American
⚫
| death_place = [[Wilmington, Delaware]], United States
⚫
|alma_mater = [[Oberlin College]]<br>[[John Hopkins University]]
⚫
| nationality = American
⚫
|fields = [[Chemistry]]
⚫
| alma_mater = [[Oberlin College]]<br>[[Johns Hopkins University]]
⚫
|work_institution = [[Hercules Inc.|Hercules]]
⚫
| fields = [[Chemistry]]
⚫
|awards = {{no wrap|[[Perkin Medal]] (1969)<br>[[IRI Medal]] (1974)}}
⚫
| work_institution = [[Hercules Inc.|Hercules]]
⚫
|known_for = Solventless Rocket Propellants
⚫
| awards = {{no wrap|[[Perkin Medal]] (1969)<br>[[IRI Medal]] (1974)}}
⚫
| known_for = Solventless Rocket Propellants
}}
}}
'''Robert W. Cairns''' was an American chemist who worked at [[Hercules Inc.|Hercules]] and at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He contributed to [[World War II]] technological advances in explosives such as solventless rocket [[smokeless powder|propellants]].
'''Robert W. Cairns''' (1909-1985) was an American chemist who worked at [[Hercules Inc.|Hercules]] and at the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]]. He contributed to [[World War II]] technological advances in explosives.

==Biography==
==Biography==
Cairns was born in [[Oberlin, Ohio]].<ref>[http://www.oberlin-high.org/obits/ohs_obits_ca-cm.html ''The Washington Post'' obituary on Oberlin High site]</ref> He was the son of William Cairns, an [[Oberlin College]] mathematics professor.<ref>[http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/holdings/finding/RG30/SG100/biography.html Williams Cairns biography on Oberlin College site]</ref> He received an A.B. from Oberlin College in 1930 and a Ph.D. from [[John Hopkins University]] in 1932. He also attended the advanced management program at the [[Harvard Business School|Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration]]. <ref>[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref>
Cairns was born in [[Oberlin, Ohio]].<ref name="oberlin-high.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.oberlin-high.org/obits/ohs_obits_ca-cm.html|title=ohs_obits_C|website=www.oberlin-high.org}}</ref> He was the son of William Cairns, an [[Oberlin College]] mathematics professor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oberlin.edu/archive/holdings/finding/RG30/SG100/biography.html|title=Williams Cairns biography on Oberlin College site|publisher=}}</ref> He received an AB from Oberlin College in 1930 and a PhD from [[Johns Hopkins University]] in 1932. He attended the six-week advanced management program at [[Harvard Business School]].<ref name="auto">[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref>


He was appointed director of research in 1955 at Hercules Research Center, was elected
He was appointed director of research in 1955 at Hercules Research Center, was elected
to the board of directors in 1960 and in 1967, he became vice-president. In 1968, he was appointed president of the [[American Chemical Society]] and then in 1972 named executive director.<ref>[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref> After retiring from Hercules in 1971, he became deputy assistant secretary for science and technology at the [[U.S. Department of Commerce]]. <ref>[http://www.oberlin-high.org/obits/ohs_obits_ca-cm.html ''The Washington Post'' obituary on Oberlin High site]</ref>
to the board of directors in 1960 and in 1967, he became vice-president. In 1968, he was appointed president of the [[American Chemical Society]] and then in 1972 named executive director.<ref name="auto"/> After retiring from Hercules in 1971, he became deputy assistant secretary for science and technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce.<ref name="oberlin-high.org"/>


Cairns led innovation in double base propellants for military rockets and in the photographic recording of explosive reactions. He then directed the role of Hercules as the major supplier to the U.S. military of these propellants.<ref>[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref>
Cairns led innovation in propellants for military rockets and in the photographic recording of explosive reactions. He then directed the role of Hercules as the major supplier to the U.S. military of these propellants.<ref name="auto"/>


He died of pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75.<ref>[http://www.oberlin-high.org/obits/ohs_obits_ca-cm.html ''The Washington Post'' obituary on Oberlin High site]</ref>
He died of pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75.<ref name="oberlin-high.org"/>


==Awards and Honors==
==Awards and honors==
* [[Perkin Medal]] (1969)<ref>[http://sci-america.org/site/?page_id=227 Past Perkin Medalists on SCI America site]</ref>
* [[Perkin Medal]] (1969)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sci-america.org/site/?page_id=227|title=SCI America – Past Perkin Medalists|website=sci-america.org|access-date=2017-01-12|archive-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201081843/http://sci-america.org/site/?page_id=227|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[IRI Medal|Industrial Research Institute Medal]] (1974)<ref>[http://www.iriweb.org/medal IRI Medalists on IRI site]</ref>
* [[IRI Medal|Industrial Research Institute Medal]] (1974)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iriweb.org/medal|title=Medal - IRI|website=www.iriweb.org}}</ref>
* Chairman of American Section of the [[Society of Chemical Industry]] (1961-1962)<ref>[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref>
* Chairman of American Section of the [[Society of Chemical Industry]] (1961-1962)<ref name="auto"/>
* President of [[International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry]] (1975-1977)<ref>[http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cen-v053n037.p008 ''Chemical and Engineering News'' article], "ACS's Cairns is new president of IUPAC," September 15, 1975, p. 8</ref><ref>[http://www.oberlin-high.org/obits/ohs_obits_ca-cm.html ''The Washington Post'' obituary on Oberlin High site]</ref>
* President of [[International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry]] (1975-1977)<ref>[http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/cen-v053n037.p008 ''Chemical and Engineering News'' article], "ACS's Cairns is new president of IUPAC," September 15, 1975, p. 8</ref><ref name="oberlin-high.org"/>
* President of [[University of Delaware]] Research Foundation<ref>[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref>
* President of [[University of Delaware]] Research Foundation<ref name="auto"/>
* President of [[Industrial Research Institute]]<ref>[https://www.nap.edu/read/1384/chapter/14 National Academy of Engineering biography], "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72</ref>
* President of [[Industrial Research Institute]]<ref name="auto"/>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Presidents of the American Chemical Society}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Cairns, Robert W.}}
{{AFC submission|||ts=20170913124009|u=DelawareDescendant|ns=118}}
[[Category:1909 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Delaware]]
[[Category:20th-century American chemists]]
[[Category:Oberlin College alumni]]
[[Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni]]

Latest revision as of 17:18, 12 October 2023

Robert W. Cairns
Hercules corporate portrait, circa 1950.
Born(1909-12-23)December 23, 1909
Oberlin, Ohio, United States
DiedJanuary 27, 1985(1985-01-27) (aged 75)
Wilmington, Delaware, United States
NationalityAmerican
Alma materOberlin College
Johns Hopkins University
Known forSolventless Rocket Propellants
AwardsPerkin Medal (1969)
IRI Medal (1974)
Scientific career
FieldsChemistry
InstitutionsHercules

Robert W. Cairns (1909-1985) was an American chemist who worked at Hercules and at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He contributed to World War II technological advances in explosives.

Biography

[edit]

Cairns was born in Oberlin, Ohio.[1] He was the son of William Cairns, an Oberlin College mathematics professor.[2] He received an AB from Oberlin College in 1930 and a PhD from Johns Hopkins University in 1932. He attended the six-week advanced management program at Harvard Business School.[3]

He was appointed director of research in 1955 at Hercules Research Center, was elected to the board of directors in 1960 and in 1967, he became vice-president. In 1968, he was appointed president of the American Chemical Society and then in 1972 named executive director.[3] After retiring from Hercules in 1971, he became deputy assistant secretary for science and technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce.[1]

Cairns led innovation in propellants for military rockets and in the photographic recording of explosive reactions. He then directed the role of Hercules as the major supplier to the U.S. military of these propellants.[3]

He died of pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75.[1]

Awards and honors

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "ohs_obits_C". www.oberlin-high.org.
  2. ^ "Williams Cairns biography on Oberlin College site".
  3. ^ a b c d e f National Academy of Engineering biography, "Memorial Tributes: National Academy of Engineering," Volume 3 (1989), pp. 68-72
  4. ^ "SCI America – Past Perkin Medalists". sci-america.org. Archived from the original on 2016-12-01. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
  5. ^ "Medal - IRI". www.iriweb.org.
  6. ^ Chemical and Engineering News article, "ACS's Cairns is new president of IUPAC," September 15, 1975, p. 8
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