Whitmore, Frank C. (Frank Clifford), 1887-1947

Frank C. Whitmore was born in North Attleboro, Massachusetts on 1 October 1887. He completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees studies Harvard University, and received his Ph. D. in organic chemistry in 1914. Four universities awarded him honorary Doctor of Science degrees: Franklin and Marshall (1947), University of Delaware (1937), Allegheny (1938), and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathy (1943). He taught at Williams College (1916-1917), the Rice Institute (1917-1918), the University of Minnesota (1918-1920), and Northwestern University (1920-1929). In 1929 he was appointed Dean of the School of Chemistry and Physics at Penn State. In 1932 Whitmore was the first to develop the concept of carbocation, and he provided the first explanation of carbocation rearrangements. During World War I he worked at the Rice Institute on poisonous gases and mercury compounds, and during World War II he worked on super-explosives, the synthesis of anti-malarials, and the production of penicillin; he also organized and supervised a group of instructors for the Army Specialized Training and Navy V-12 programs at Penn State. He died in 1947 at the age of 59.

From the description of Frank C. Whitmore papers, 1928-1951. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 631837533

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