Robert W. Cairns: Difference between revisions
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He died of pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75. |
He died of pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75. |
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==Awards and Honors== |
==Awards and Honors== |
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* [[Perkin Medal]] (1969) |
* [[Perkin Medal]] (1969) <ref>[http://sci-america.org/site/?page_id=227 Past Perkin Medalists on SCI America site]</ref> |
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* [[IRI Medal|Industrial Research Institute Medal]] (1974) |
* [[IRI Medal|Industrial Research Institute Medal]] (1974) |
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* Chairman of American Section of the [[Society of Chemical Industry]] (1961-1962) |
* Chairman of American Section of the [[Society of Chemical Industry]] (1961-1962) |
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* President of [[University of Delaware]] Research Foundation |
* President of [[University of Delaware]] Research Foundation |
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* President of [[Industrial Research Institute]] |
* President of [[Industrial Research Institute]] |
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==References== |
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Revision as of 17:39, 12 January 2017
Robert W. Cairns | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 23, 1909 Oberlin, Ohio, United States |
| Died | January 27, 1985 (aged 75) Wilmington, Delaware, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Oberlin College John Hopkins University |
| Known for | Solventless Rocket Propellants |
| Awards | Perkin Medal (1969) IRI Medal (1974) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Chemistry |
| Institutions | Hercules |
Robert W. Cairns was an American chemist who worked at Hercules as well as held numerous government positions. He is known for his contributions to World War II technological advances in explosives such as solventless rocket propellants.
Biography
Cairns was born in Oberlin, Ohio. He was the son of William Cairns, an Oberlin College mathematics professor. 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 Graduate School of Business Administration.
He was named director of Hercules Research Center in 1941 and appointed director of research in 1955. He was elected to the board of directors in 1960. In 1967, he became vice-president. In 1968, he was appointed president of the American Chemical Society and then in 1972 named executive director. After retiring from Hercules in 1971, he became deputy assistant secretary for science and technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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.
Cairns had a commanding but gracious personality, standing at 6'7" with a full head of snowy white hair. He died of pneumonia in 1985 at the age of 75.
Awards and Honors
- Perkin Medal (1969) [1]
- Industrial Research Institute Medal (1974)
- Chairman of American Section of the Society of Chemical Industry (1961-1962)
- President of International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (1975-1977)
- President of University of Delaware Research Foundation
- President of Industrial Research Institute