Curran, Sir Samuel Crowe, 1912-1998, Knight, physicist, Principal of University of Strathclyde

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Personne

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Curran, Sir Samuel Crowe, 1912-1998, Knight, physicist, Principal of University of Strathclyde

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        Dates d’existence

        1912-1998

        Historique

        Samuel Curran, internationally respected nuclear physicist and first principal of the University of Strathclyde, was born in Ballymena, County Antrim, his mother's home town, but spent his childhood and youth in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. After schooling at Wishaw High School, Curran graduated with first class honours in mathematics and natural philosophy from Glasgow University and joined the University Physics Department as a PhD student in 1934. He researched the diffraction of beta rays of radium and modified and reconstructed Geiger counters. In 1937, Curran moved to St John's College, Cambridge to continue his studies, and worked alongside his fellow student and future wife, Joan Strothers, in the Cavendish Laboratory. During World War II, they joined a small team developing the proximity fuse, which was highly effective in destroying enemy planes and V1 rockets, and radar installation. Curran was seconded in 1944 to the University of California in Berkeley to work on the separation of isotopes of uranium as part of the Manhattan Project (the development of the atomic bomb) and after a period on the staff of Glasgow University, he assisted with the development of a British hydrogen bomb at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston in the 1950s. He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1953. In 1959, he was invited to become Principal of the Royal College of Science and Technology and to lead the College to University status. He served as principal until his retirement in 1980. Curran was a scientific adviser to government and public bodies, and received many honorary degrees. He was knighted in 1970.

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        Related entity

        University of Strathclyde | Principal and Vice-Chancellor (1964 to date)

        Identifier of related entity

        C0208

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1964 - 1980

        Description of relationship

        Related entity

        University of Strathclyde (1964 to date)

        Identifier of related entity

        C0047

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1964 - 1980

        Description of relationship

        Related entity

        Royal College of Science and Technology, Glasgow (1887-1964)

        Identifier of related entity

        C0065

        Category of relationship

        associative

        Dates of relationship

        1959 - 1964

        Description of relationship

        Related entity

        Curran, Joan Elizabeth, Lady Curran, 1916-1999, scientist (1916 - 1999)

        Identifier of related entity

        P1190

        Category of relationship

        family

        Type of relationship

        Curran, Joan Elizabeth, Lady Curran, 1916-1999, scientist is the spouse of Curran, Sir Samuel Crowe, 1912-1998, Knight, physicist, Principal of University of Strathclyde

        Dates of relationship

        1940 - 1999

        Description of relationship

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        Mots-clés - Sujets

        Mots-clés - Lieux

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        Identifiant de notice d'autorité

        P0021

        Identifiant du service d'archives

        GB 249

        Rules and/or conventions used

        ISAAR(CPF): International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families, International Council on Archives (2nd edition, 2003); Rules for the construction of personal, place and corporate names, National Council on Archives (1997).

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        Created by Victoria Peters, December 2009.

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