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Charles James
Charles James was born in Earls Barton, near Northampton, England, on April 27, 1880. He received
his primary and secondary education in the nearby town of Wellingborough. At the age of 15, his
interest in chemistry was kindled by the discovery of several of his father's old chemistry books,
and he set up a laboratory in the family home. In 1899, he entered the Institute of Chemistry,
University College, London, where he studied under Sir William Ramsay and John Norman Collie. In 1900,
he was awarded the Ramsay Silver Medal for his work. Ramsay wrote, "James is certainly able to take
his place with any of the [American chemists], allowing for his age, in originality and power for work.
He was always original ever since he came as a youngster to my laboratory; he did not tire of his work
in our college, but carried out work at his home in Kettering, about 50 miles from London, where he had
a small laboratory of his own." He passed the examinations for associate in 1904 and for fellow in 1907
at the Institute of Chemistry. He also supplemented his study of chemistry with industrial experience at
the New Carnsley Iron and Steel Co. in Kettering, England. In 1906, he accepted a position at the National
Refining Company in Westchester, New York, and in February of that year, he was called to the New Hampshire
College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts by Charles Parsons to become assistant professor of chemistry. While in Durham, James conducted his extensive investigations of the chemistry of the rare earths. The
results were described in more than 60 papers published primarily in the Journal of the American Chemical
Society between 1907 and 1931. He separated and characterized large quantities of pure rare earths, frequently
at the kilogram level. He discovered new compounds of neodymium, samarium, and europium and determined the
atomic weights of samarium, thulium, and yttrium. More than 200 specimens of his rare earth compounds still
remain in the James Collection at UNH. His students and contemporaries knew James as a dedicated and
meticulous chemist and a sympathetic mentor. Much of his rare earth work was carried out with the help
of undergraduates whom he patiently developed into accomplished researchers. He was known by all as "King"
James, a tribute to his English heritage. The New York Section of ACS awarded James the Nichols Medal in 1911 for his research in the chemistry of
the rare earth elements. In 1927, James received an honorary doctor of science degree from UNH. In 1915, he married Marion E. Templeton, a member of the faculty of the Department of Botany. Their common
interest in floriculture made their residence with its wide variety of flowers a showplace of Durham. He
was especially interested in the propagation of rare plants, which he collected, along with rare minerals,
during summer vacations. James died on Dec. 10, 1928.
The rare earths |
Discovery |
Chemistry at the University of New Hampshire: 1866-1928
Conant Hall |
Charles James |
Landmark designation and acknowledgments
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