| Rex Edward Richards | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 October 1922 Colyton, Devon, England[1] |
| Occupation | Vice Chancellor of University of Oxford (1977–1981) Chancellor of the University of Exeter |
| Title | MA, DPhil, DSc, FRS, FRSC, Hon DSc (Exon), FBA |
Sir Rex Edward Richards FRS, FRSC, FBA (born 28 October 1922) is a British scientist and academic. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford[2] and a director of the Leverhulme Trust.
Richards completed his secondary schooling at Colyton Grammar School then proceeded on to St John's College, Oxford. After graduating with a first in 1945 and then obtaining a DPhil degree in 1948, Richards stayed at the University as a Fellow in Chemistry at Lincoln College from 1947–64. In 1964 he succeeded Sir Cyril Hinshelwood as Dr Lee's Professor of Chemistry, leading to him moving to Exeter College.[3] In 1969, he become Warden of Merton College.[3] He also held the post of Vice Chancellor of the University from 1977–81 and was Director of IBM (UK) Ltd from 1978–83 and of the Leverhulme Trust from 1984–93. He was President of the Royal Society of Chemistry for two years and the Royal Society awarded him the Davy Medal in 1976 and the Royal Medal in 1986. He was knighted in 1977.[3]
Sir Rex Richards has chaired numerous committees concerned with higher education, including an independent enquiry to investigate factors which might deter young doctors and dentists from choosing clinical academic careers. He was also Chancellor of the University of Exeter, from 1982 to October 1998.[4] A painted portrait of Sir Rex Richards, by Allan Ramsay, hangs in the Senate and Council Chamber, Northcote House, University of Exeter, and another by Bryan Organ in Merton College, Oxford.
Rex Richards also has an interest in the art world: he was a member of the National Gallery Scientific Advisory Committee from 1978 to 2007, and Chairman from 1991–1993. He was Trustee of the Tate Gallery 1982-1988 and 1989–1993, of the National Gallery 1982–1988 and 1989–1993 and of the Henry Moore Foundation 1989–2002, Chairman 1994–2001. He was also Chairman of the British Postgraduate Medical Foundation 1986–1993.
His research work in the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory at Oxford was primarily concerned with Nuclear magnetic resonance. His early work, leading to the award of a D. Phil. in 1948 was on infrared spectroscopy, supervised by Harold Warris Thompson.[3]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robin Harrison |
Warden of Merton College, Oxford 1969–1984 |
Succeeded by John Roberts |
| Preceded by Sir John Habakkuk |
Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University 1977–1981 |
Succeeded by Geoffrey Warnock |
| Preceded by 1st Viscount Amory |
Chancellor of the University of Exeter 1982–1998 |
Succeeded by Lord Alexander of Weedon |
|
|||||