Cottrell, Frederick Gardner, 1877-1948

Chemist and inventor.

From the description of Frederick Gardner Cottrell papers, 1896-1951 (bulk 1907-1940). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81549200

Biographical Note

• 1877, Jan. 10: Born, Oakland, Calif.
• 1896: B.S., University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
• 1897 - 1900 : Chemistry teacher, Oakland High School, Oakland, Calif.
• 1902: Ph.D., University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
• 1902 - 1911 : Instructor (1902-1906) and assistant professor (1906-1911) in physical chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Calif.
• 1903: Invented Cottrell electrical precipitator
• circa 1908 - 1909 : Developed a process for removing water from crude oil
• 1911 - 1920 : Chief physical chemist (1911-1914), chief chemist (1914-1915), chief metallurgist (1916-1919), assistant director (1919-1920), and director (1920), United States Bureau of Mines
• 1912: Cofounded the Research Corporation to hold and develope his patents for the purpose of awarding scientific grants
• circa 1917 - 1918 : Developed a process that reduced the cost of producing helium
• 1921 - 1922 : Chairman, a division of chemistry and chemical toxicology of the National Research Council
• circa 1922: Developed catalyst which allowed synthetic ammonia to be produced at the United States Government's Muscle Shoals, Tenn., plant
• 1922 - 1943 : Director, United States Department of Agriculture, Fixed Nitrogen Research Laboratory (1922-1927); chief, division of fertilizer and fixed nitrogen investigation, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils (1927-1930); and consulting chemist, Bureau of Chemistry and Soils (1930-1940) and Bureau of Plant Industry (1940-1943)
• 1948, Nov. 16: Died, Berkeley, Calif.

From the guide to the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Papers, 1896-1951, (bulk 1907-1940), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)