Abstract
CHARLES HANSON GREVILLE WILLIAMS was born at Cheltenham, September 22, 1829, the son of S. Hanson Williams, a solicitor; his death occurred on June 15, 1910. He commenced his professional o career as first assistant to Prof. Anderson, of Glasgow University; after some years spent in research work he moved to Edinburgh, where he conducted a tutorial class under Dr. Lyon Playfair. From 1857 to 1859 he was lecturer on chemistry in the Normal College, Swansea. In 1859 he returned to Glasgow as chemist to the works of Messrs. Miller, chemical manufacturers. He migrated to Greenford Green in 1863, remaining with Messrs. Perkin until 1868. About that year he entered into partnership with M. Edouard Thomas, at the Star Chemical Works, Brentford, the firm being makers of coal-tar colours, and subsisting until 1877. Mr. Greville Williams about this time gave up his connection with manufacturing chemistry and became photometric supervisor to the Gas Light and Coke Company, with whom he remained until 1901, then retiring into the country, where he seldom saw his old friends and acquaintances, but was much interested in the study of the ancient Egyptian language and the translation of inscriptions. Until rheumatism disabled him he was an expert draughtsman and calligraphist, a fair game shot, and an enthusiastic angler. Although in reality a charming companion, with unusual conversational powers, and a keen appreciation of literary and artistic culture, Greville Williams possessed a very modest and retiring disposition, and became, especially of late years, an almost complete recluse. He was more nervous about his state of health than he need have been, and, in consequence, cut himself off unnecessarily from scientific and social intercourse. This isolation was also due, no doubt, in part to his straitened circumstances, which necessitated strict economy and debarred him from the continuance of his scientific researches—hard lines for a thorough enthusiast; and such he was, possessed, moreover, with the true chemical instinct and a general scientific aptitude. It is a pity that the genius for investigation which was shown in his researches on isoprene, on beryl, and on the bases from bituminous shale, from the Boghead mineral, and from the destructive distillation of cinchonine, did not develop in accordance with more modern methods in his later years. But he made many interesting discoveries, and has left a considerable record of thoroughly sound work.
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C., A. C. H. Greville Williams, F.R.S . Nature 84, 14 (1910). https://doi.org/10.1038/084014a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/084014a0