Bob Briggs (chemist)

Lindsay Heathcote "Bob" Briggs (3 January 1905 – 16 January 1975) was a New Zealand organic chemist.

Bob Briggs
Born
Lindsay Heathcote Briggs

(1905-01-03)3 January 1905
Hastings, New Zealand
Died16 January 1975(1975-01-16) (aged 70)
Auckland, New Zealand
Alma materAuckland University College
University of Oxford
Known forContribution to the structure of strychnine; chemistry of New Zealand native plants
AwardsHector Medal (1943)
Scientific career
FieldsOrganic chemistry
InstitutionsUniversity of Auckland
Thesis (1932)
Doctoral advisorRobert Robinson

Early life

Born in Hastings in 1905,[1] Briggs was educated at Auckland Grammar School.[2]

Academic career

After graduating from Auckland University College with a Master of Science with second-class honours in 1928,[3] he received funding to research manuka oil the following year,[4] and undertook independent research at Massey Agricultural College from 1929 to 1930.

He then went to the Dyson Perrins Laboratory at Oxford University for a PhD under Robert Robinson, investigating the chemical structure of strychnine.[1] He was awarded his doctorate in 1932 and returned to Auckland, where he was appointed as a lecturer in organic chemistry in 1933.[2]

In 1941 he was awarded a DSc from Auckland University College.[3] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1942[5] and served as its president from 1956 to 1958.[6] He was awarded the Hector Medal by the society in 1943.[7]

He was also an active member of the Auckland University field club.[8]

References
  1. McLintock, A.H., ed. (1966). "Briggs, Lindsay Heathcote". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  2. "Chemistry lecturer". New Zealand Herald. 27 March 1933. p. 10. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  3. "NZ university graduates 1870–1961: Bri–By". Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  4. "Scientific research". Evening Post. 5 March 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  5. "The academy: A–C". Royal Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  6. "Presidents of the Royal Society of New Zealand". Royal Society of New Zealand. 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  7. "Hector Medal". Royal Society of New Zealand. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  8. Millener, Laurie (1975). "Obituary – Professor L.H. Briggs" (PDF). Tane: The Journal of the Auckland University Field Club. 21: 175–176. Retrieved 20 August 2014.


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