Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T12:44:09.434Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Rev. William Gregor (1761-1817), discoverer of titanium.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2018

Arthur Russell
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In view of the important uses to which the metal titanium has been applied in recent years, it seems fitting that some tribute should be paid to its Cornish discoverer, the Rev. William Gregor, and with this end in view I have collected the following facts concerning this now almost forgotten distinguished early chemist.

The Rev. William Gregor, M.A., chemist and mineralogist, was the younger son of Francis Gregor, member of an old Cornish family of Trewarthenic, Cornelly, CornwalI. Born on December 25, 1761, he was educated at Bristol Grammar School, and it was while there that he first developed a taste for chemistry.

Type
Other
Information
Mineralogical magazine and journal of the Mineralogical Society , Volume 30 , Issue 229 , June 1955 , pp. 617 - 624
Copyright
Copyright © 1955, The Mineralogical Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Klaproth, M.H., Chemische Untersuchung der sogennanten hungarischen rothen SchSrls. Beiträge zur chemischen Kenntniss der Mineralkörper, Posen, 1795, vol. 1, pp. 233–244. [Titanium or Titankalk, p. 244.]Google Scholar
Schmeisser, J.G.. Experiments on, and analysis of, the magnetic sand, found in the county of Cornwall, and called by Mr. Gregor menekanite. Crell's Chem. Journ., 1793, vol. 3, pp. 252–259. Google Scholar
Weeks, M.E., The discovery of the elements. Mack Printing Co., Easton, Pa., 1935, pp. 142–145. [M.A. 7-15.]Google Scholar
Mitchell, G., An account of a new semi-metallic substance, called menacane, and its ores (Read July 4, 1803). Trans. Roy. Irish Acad., 1806, vol. 10, pp. 11–30. Google Scholar
Mitchell, G., Reprinted in Nicholson's Journ., 1807, ser. 2, vol. 16, p. 128.Google Scholar
Mitchell, G. Gmelins Handbuch Anorg. Chem., 8th edit., 1951, no. 41, Titan, pp. 1–2. [M.A. 11-412.]Google Scholar
Boase, G.C. and Courtey, W.P., Bibliotheca Cornubiensis. London, 18741881, vol. 1, p. 188.Google Scholar
Boase, G.C. Collectanea Cornubiensia. Truro, 1890, p. 292.Google Scholar
Polwtiele, R.. The language, literature, and literary characters of Cornwall. London, 1806, p. 123. Dictionary of National Biography, London, 1890, vol. 23, p. 89.Google Scholar
Paris, J.A., A memoir on the life and scientific labours of the Rev. William Gregor, A.M. Read before the Royal Geological Society of Cornwall at the Anniversary Meeting, 1817. This never appeared in the Society's transactions, but was printed as a pamphlet by William Phillips, London, 1818, pp. 1–37. and sold by Harry of Truro, at one shilling. In it is printed a letter from the early Ameri - can mineralogist Archibald Bruce (1777-1818), dated New York, May 8, 1810, accompanying a gift of rutile and other specimens from American localities.Google Scholar
Anon., Biographical notice of the Rev. William Gregor. Ann. Phil., 1818, vol. 11, pp. 112114. (The information contained in this notice was furnished by Gregor's intimate friend and neighbour the Rev. Jeremiah Trist, Vicar of Veryan, Cornwall.)Google Scholar
Anon., Western Morning Newsnewspaper, October 3, 1952.Google Scholar