History - People - Thomas Graham

Thomas Graham (1805 - 1869) Tenure: Head of Department : 1837 - 1854

Graham lectured at the Andersonian Institute in Glasgow before joining London University. He was a pioneer, linking the early great advances of Dalton, Davy and Berzelius with modern science. His early researches were into the diffusion of gases, and later, the diffusion of liquids and solids dissolved in liquids, resulting in the discovery of diffusion laws. He also laid the foundation for the branch of science later known as 'Colloid Chemistry'. He was one of the founders and the first President of the Chemical Society. In 1854 he succeeded Herschel as Master of the Mint.

This page last modified 20 September, 2010