Harry Thode

Harry Thode
CC, MBE, FRSC
President and vice-chancellor of McMaster University
In office
1961–1972
Preceded by George Gilmour
Succeeded by Arthur Bourns
President of the Royal Society of Canada
In office
1959–1960
Preceded by Pierre Daviault
Succeeded by Merton Yarwood Williams
Personal details
Born Henry George Thode
September 10, 1910
Dundurn, Saskatchewan
Died March 22, 1997 (aged 86)
Occupation Nuclear Scientist

Henry George "Harry" Thode CC MBE FRS FRSC[1] (September 10, 1910 March 22, 1997) was a Canadian geochemist, nuclear chemist, and academic administrator. He was president and vice-chancellor of McMaster University from 1961 to 1972.

Born in Dundurn, Saskatchewan, he received his B.Sc in 1930 and his M.Sc in 1932 from the University of Saskatchewan. In 1934, he received his Ph.D in physical chemistry from the University of Chicago.

He joined McMaster University in 1939 as an associate professor of chemistry, became a full professor in 1944; was named director of research in 1947; appointed head of the chemistry department from 1948 to 1952; became principal of Hamilton College in 1949; appointed vice-president in 1957; and in 1961 became president and vice chancellor. He retired as president in 1972.

Honours

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to atomic research during World War II. He was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1943 and a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1954. In 1967 he was the first scientist to be made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

The Science and Engineering library at McMaster University is named after him.

References

  1. Clarke, W. B.; Crocket, J. H.; Gillespie, R. J.; Krouse, H. R.; Shaw, D. M.; Schwarcz, H. P. (2000). "Henry George Thode, M.B.E. 10 September 1910 -- 22 March 1997: Elected F.R.S. 1954". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 46: 499. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1999.0098.

Further reading